Julian Schuster hails Freiburg’s team spirit after dramatic win over Schalke

SC Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster praised his side’s togetherness after they secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Schalke 04 despite playing more than 25 minutes with ten men.

Freiburg celebrate following their victory against Schalke

Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images

Keisuke Goto proved to be the match winner at the Europa-Park Stadion on Sunday evening, heading home Vincenzo Grifo’s cross in the 85th minute to maintain Freiburg’s unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season and send them to the top of the table.

The hosts had taken an early lead through Maximilian Eggestein before Adrian Gantenbein levelled for Schalke in the first half. Freiburg’s task became more difficult when Yuito Suzuki was sent off in the 64th minute, but Schuster’s side continued to push forward and were rewarded late on.

Speaking after the game, Schuster highlighted the contribution of his substitutes and the collective mentality that helped Freiburg overcome their numerical disadvantage.

“This is our biggest asset, this dressing room,” the Freiburg head coach explained, pointing to the attitude of those who do not necessarily feature in the starting eleven. He also stressed the importance of preserving that spirit within the squad. 

Schuster was particularly pleased with how his players responded to Suzuki’s dismissal, with Freiburg refusing to retreat into a defensive shell despite Schalke having a numerical advantage.

“We knew Schalke were capable of getting back into the game at any moment, and that’s exactly what happened,” he said, explaining that his team had been prepared for the need to show character. “After Yuito was sent off, the team stepped up for him.”

The Freiburg coach also praised the impact of those introduced from the bench, with Grifo and Goto combining for the decisive goal just two minutes after the former entered the field.

Eggestein, who opened the scoring in the tenth minute, similarly emphasised the importance of Freiburg’s determination in securing all three points.

“Especially after the red card, it wasn’t a top performance anymore, but in terms of fighting spirit, it was very good,” the midfielder said. 

The victory represents another significant result for Freiburg, who have continued to collect points despite the demands of the early-season schedule. Their ability to find a winner while down to ten men will further strengthen the confidence within Schuster’s squad.

However, the head coach was keen to focus on the collective effort rather than the individual contributions, identifying the unity within the dressing room as a key strength that Freiburg must maintain throughout the campaign.

Freiburg will now turn their attention to their upcoming Conference League fixture against FK Jablonec on Thursday before returning to Bundesliga action away to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.