Maximilian Eggestein has been an integral part of the successful SC Freiburg team since moving from Bremen. Before the top game at FC Bayern on Saturday (3:30 p.m. in the LIVETICKER), the 24-year-old underlines the mentality of the Breisgau residents.
In conversation with SPOX and Goal, the midfielder talks about his start in Freiburg, the club’s goals and his ambitions for the German national team.
Although coach Christian Streich’s team is the last undefeated team in Europe’s top 5 leagues together with Liverpool FC, Eggestein sees the chances of beating the German record champions as unrealistic. He also talks about his special relationship with his brother Johannes, who now plays for Royal Antwerp in Belgium.
Maximilian Eggestein on …
… the start in Freiburg: “Very good, the city is really nice. The environment is very calm and not crazy. We are doing very well in football at the moment. I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t feel comfortable. There was no particular caregiver. It’s very special with us in the team. There are no big groups. The boys are all open, they gave me a warm welcome just like the coaches. In the video training I was taken to my side from time to time and I was shown things. that I did wrong or differently at the beginning. That helped me. “
… the secret of success: “It’s not that secret at all. Anyone who looks at us from the outside can see relatively quickly that we are a sworn bunch. Except for me, everyone has been there for a relatively long time and has been playing together for a long time. You know the processes and know each other As the only new addition, it was made relatively easy for me to adapt. I received a lot of video training, but I was also very well received by the guys within the team. We have a very strong team spirit, maybe even bigger than with us other teams and that really helps us in the game at the moment. “
… the competitive mindset in Freiburg: “We have a lot of good people, we’re also well positioned across the board. That also applies to my position. At the moment there are four guys who could all play. That’s why I’m already in a competition. But it’s not with us in such a way that one doesn’t allow the other to do it. So far it has also been the case that the same players haven’t always played. We push ourselves through it and force ourselves to perform better.
Freiburg’s Eggestein: Victory against Bavaria? “Don’t waste a thought”
… dealing with the soaring and Europe: “We are known in Freiburg for not looking that far ahead. I haven’t been here that long, but I understand that. After the tenth match day we don’t start dreaming, we’re just happy, that we got off to such a good start. We want to continue like this and we will see where we will end up in the end. It is far too early to make any prognoses. “
… Freiburg’s chances against FC Bayern: “There is actually almost no team that goes to Munich that gives a hint of the thought that you are a favorite or something like that. We know who we will meet there. Bayern have this season, with the exception of the Gladbach- Game (0: 5 bankruptcy in the cup; editor’s note), showed why they have been undisputed up there for years. That’s why we’re not so naive just because we are now ten games unbeaten that it will be different than in the years before. You always need a bit of luck against Bayern and you have to hope that they don’t have the best day. Because of our own performance, we still have self-confidence and that’s how we want to approach it. “
… prank words before such a game: “Up until now everything was the same. We did a video analysis. You have already played in the Champions League. You shouldn’t hang it too high. Of course, it’s not a normal Bundesliga game when you play against Bayern – especially because of the last one Years not, but still you mustn’t be too awestruck now. We try to approach it like a normal Bundesliga game and have our actions. We want to play forward and pose problems for Bayern. That is what sets us apart. “
Eggestein: “I was not at all disappointed” by the Olympic cancellation
… the concern about a certain Bayern player: “You could now highlight Lewandowski because he scores all the goals. If you see the actions in advance, how they are prepared, you shouldn’t be so naive and focus only on Lewandowski. The others can also score goals. Bayern is it is the collective that is strong. “
… his ambitions with the national team: “I’m not wasting any thoughts on that at the moment. I’m coming from a special situation because I was relegated with Werder Bremen last year. I want to focus on playing successful football again at the club. I have two years behind me that are not so went well and after two or three months I don’t want to start dreaming right away. I want to concentrate on playing well with Freiburg. “
… his disregard for the Olympics: “That wouldn’t have worked this year with my transfer. That’s why I wasn’t disappointed at all. It just wouldn’t have worked in the phase I was in.”
SC Freiburg – Eggestein: That’s what Streich told us before the general election
… the contact to his brother Johannes Eggestein: “We talk on the phone or write to each other every day. Mostly via face-time. It is now a habit for us that we are no longer in a club. Jojo was in Austria last year. We did the preparation together at Werder for a short time. It but it was clear relatively quickly that the paths would part again and that’s why you got used to it. We have a great relationship. If someone didn’t play such a good game, we cheer up. We are not in the competitive situation and discuss who is the better of the two of us now. That is nonsense, too. We try to support each other and to be there for each other.
… Prank’s announcement before the federal election that everyone should vote: “He built the general election into one of his speeches and reminded us that we shouldn’t forget to cast our vote. He didn’t say that we should choose a certain direction. The electorate then implemented that. It should be done that way ! “
