A very rare form weakness of Freiburg’s captain Christian Günter (30) ensured in the most recent season finale for his first bank places after more than six years and the non-consideration in the national team. However, SC sports director Jochen Saier sees the consequences positively.
Evergreen and endurance runner at SC Freiburg: Christian Günter. IMAGO/Jöran Steinsiek
When the Freiburg pros start their pre-season training on Monday morning at 10:15 a.m. on the pitch next to the Europa Park stadium, the captain will be there. Annoying on the one hand, as Günter’s wish to be nominated for the June international matches did not come true. Then he would not have started club training with the other national players until a week later.
On the other hand, the decision of national coach Hansi Flick could also turn out to be a blessing for Freiburg’s long-running favorite. Not only because, given the weak DFB performances, almost everyone who was not considered could feel like a winner. But because it enabled the family man, who has been working almost to the maximum for years, to take six weeks of vacation at a time.
“The break came at absolutely the right time for him,” says SC sports director Jochen Saier: “Recovery is elementary for Günni and the prerequisite for him to have the steam for his game again in the new season.” He’ll need that.
The end of the past season was unusual for the man with jersey number 30. Sitting on the substitutes’ bench shortly before kick-off instead of stepping onto the lawn in competition gear… Günter’s memory of this must have at least faded before he retired on 33 th match day against Wolfsburg joined the reserves. More than six years ago, on April 15, 2017, at the 0: 4 in Leipzig, the eternal left-back from Freiburg was last on the bench. Since then he has only been missing from the squad three times – once injured, once yellow-red and once yellow-banned – otherwise started in every competitive game.
After all those years of consistency, reliability and starting eleven in a row, the eight-time national player also had a form weakness. To be more precise, the left-footed player had run out of steam on the home straight after 44 games of the season. The non-appointment for the national team was therefore quite understandable. At least viewed in isolation, because the nominated position rival David Raum had a clearly weaker half-year behind him.
He is a mainstay for us.
Jochen Saier about Christian Günter
The strengths of the athletic sprinter type Günter, who comes through power, dynamics and straightness, are essentially fed from the power. These attributes did not come into play as usual in the bitter 4-2 defeat in a direct duel with Union Berlin for the fourth premier class ticket on matchday 32. Günter was therefore – just as unusual – already replaced at the break. Günter then made remarkable use of his joker role, supported his colleagues from the outside in an exemplary manner and initiated the 2-0 win against Wolfsburg with his only goal of the season. However, he was unable to prevent the final 2-1 defeat in Frankfurt, when Eintracht turned the game around after Günter came on. But recover afterwards instead of taking the complex burdens at the DFB with you.
Now Günter should start up again in his home and heart club, whose jersey he has been wearing continuously since 2007. Saier underscores the importance of the 30-year-old: “He’s a mainstay for us.” One who, after years without a real back-up at the back left, is now feeling increased competitive pressure from the U-21 internationals Kenneth Schmidt and Noah Weißhaupt. Offensive force Weißhaupt had replaced him twice as a left rail player in the starting XI in the season finale. Central defender Schmidt can also play on the left side.
Günter is therefore more challenged internally than in previous years. However, there can be no talk of an imminent changing of the guard. Rather, an impressive restart of the Freiburg power plant is to be expected.
2023-07-10 06:30:11
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