Bundesliga
Tears in Freiburg – emotional farewell for Streich
Farewell for Freiburg coach Christian Streich. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
Fans, club, players and opponents pay homage to Christian Streich. The home farewell for Freiburg’s football coach will be emotional. He explains why he needs to protect himself.
The cult coach, who classifies himself as a “Kültle”, does not want to allow the really big emotions (publicly) yet. “So far I have to say I have it really well under control,” said Streich. He doesn’t feel like he’s leaving now either. He lives here, will definitely visit the stadium again and doesn’t know what will happen in the next year or two. Game days could probably feel weird in the future.
“Now it wasn’t weird. Now it was normal,” Streich claimed. He said the atmosphere was “wonderful” and “great”, but he was extremely annoyed by the disappointing result: “I’m going home with the feeling that we’ve dropped two points again and that pisses me off.”
One last goal
When he retreated to the bench for several minutes after the final whistle, it wasn’t his farewell that concerned him. He thought about how his team could dominate so much but couldn’t push the ball over the line again.
The coach wants to crown his last season with the third qualification in a row for the European Cup. After the post and crossbar, missed chances by his SC and the goals from Ritsu Doan (29th minute) and Heidenheim’s Kevin Sessa (38th), the celebration day ended with the points being shared. The starting position for the season finale at 1. FC Union Berlin has become more difficult.
That didn’t change the emotions in the stands. There were a lot of tears there and the fans sang about their Christian Streich as the “best man”. The club presented the coach with wine from vintages of special events from his time at SC.
Sympathies throughout Germany
When it was Streich’s turn at the microphone, he first congratulated Heidenheim. He then said he would like to thank the SC “heartily” for everything, and “all the people who supported me in the club, who were lenient with me, who sometimes looked the other way when it wasn’t correct on my part.” Then Streich joined the appeal of his assistant coach Patrick Baier, who had also left, to maintain realistic expectations. The fact that the fans chanted “No more 2nd league” was probably fitting.
In December 2011, the former youth coach took over the Breisgauer team as relegation candidates. He has long since become a special case in the hectic football business. He was relegated in 2015 and promoted again in 2016. In recent years the club has come close to qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.
“You can’t appreciate enough what he has done for this club,” said Freiburg captain Christian Günter. The coach also gained sympathy throughout Germany because he took a clear stance on political and social issues and denounced undesirable developments. On Saturday, a speedster cried in Streich’s arms. The Heidenheimers also celebrated the opposing coach. “Loyalty and honesty, unfortunately a rarity. Goodbye Christian Streich,” read their banner.
Prank: “Then you’re emotionally exhausted”
“He simply has a different style. He is also interested in people,” emphasized Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo once again when asked what sets the coach apart. Streich doesn’t really like being the center of attention. His words were remarkable even before kick-off for his home farewell, which he had previously declared as “uninteresting”.
Also out of self-protection, Streich said on the pay TV channel Sky that he doesn’t allow his emotions to flow: “I’ve built a little box inside of me, and everything comes in there. Otherwise you won’t be able to do it,” he said. “Otherwise it goes up and down, then you’re emotionally exhausted, it’s too much.” If everything turns out positive in the end, “we’ll go home and cry.”
Next Saturday, his team wants to make up for the victory they missed in the home game as a farewell present. If the European Cup works out, he will be the “happiest person,” said Streich. He thought he might need tissues for his last appearance, too.