Freiburg eyeing fairytale finish to Europa League as well as first ever major trophy
The game at Besiktas Park marks the Black Forest side second major final after they lost the 2022 German Cup final to Leipzig on penalties. This rewards their steady development.
Once not even the biggest club in Freiburg the club enjoys the most successful period in its history.
While German giants with huge followings like Hamburg Schalke and Stuttgart have struggled and suffered relegation in recent seasons Freiburg has established itself as European regulars.
Freiburg success results from a strong community connection along with loyalty to coaches rarely seen in modern football.
Little Freiburg
After beating Braga to reach the final Nicolas Hofler a 36 year old midfielder who retires in the summer after two decades at the club stood still on the pitch as overjoyed fans streamed onto it.
He told reporters he struggled to believe what little Freiburg had achieved.
Germany strict member control rules restrict outside investment meaning there are few shortcuts to success for ambitious sides.
Freiburg represents the model example of methodical gradual self improvement based on good decisions and a clear sense of identity.
The two most important coaches in Freiburg history Volker Finke and Christian Streich each served for over a decade keeping their jobs despite relegations.
Current manager Julian Schuster took over from Streich in 2024 after playing for the club since 2008 and the transition went smoothly.
Schuster took Freiburg close to Champions League qualification in his first season. This year Freiburg reached the German Cup semi finals and the Europa League showpiece.
The club core playing group features several long time servants many of them graduates of the Freiburg academy.
Captain Christian Gunter defender Matthias Ginter Hofler and rising star Johan Manzambi are just some of the club junior products.
Freiburg born Ginter 32 said his side collective values have laid the groundwork for success.
It is about the shared virtues which have distinguished the club for years and brought us to where we are today Ginter a 2014 World Cup winner with Germany said at a media day on Thursday.
Over the past few years there has been steady development. Personally we might not have the biggest individual stars on paper but we function perfectly as a team.
Since football is a team sport that works quite well.
No point in losing
Ginter called the Villa clash the biggest match in the club history and we are going to give it a real go.
Freiburg are clear underdogs. Not only are Villa among the Premier League best but coach Unai Emery is a four time Europa League winner.
While Villa tasted major success against German opposition beating Bayern Munich to win the 1982 European Cup this will be just the second Premier League team Freiburg have faced after two meetings with West Ham ended in a 5 1 aggregate defeat in the Europa League last 16 in 2023 to 24.
Captain Gunter 33 has spent his entire career at the club but made it clear that just reaching the final was not enough.
There is no point in losing that is the motto we have to go there with. Hopefully we will be able to lift the cup at the end.
To experience that would be incredible. But you can dream all you want it has to be achieved first.
For many years people told me just move to a bigger club if you want to win titles or play in Europe.
We were able to disprove that together. That is the result of years of hard work from every single person. Many right decisions were made at the top.