Freiburg’s Maximilian Philipp: “We can beat Bayern”

With five goals and one assist, Maximilian Philipp is one of Freiburg’s most prolific players so far this season. The 22-year-old made his professional debut in April 2014, experienced relegation to the 2. Bundesliga in 2015 and played a big part in Freiburg’s promotion back to the top flight. Freiburg currently find themselves in eighth place in the Bundesliga and their game against FC Bayern München on Friday (20:30 CET) will mark the return to football following the winter break. In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, Philipp speaks about the team’s chances against the German record champions, working with head coach Christian Streich and the U21 European Championships in June.

DFB.de: Mr Philipp, how does it feel to be starting the new year with a home game against FC Bayern?

Maximilian Philipp: It’s definitely a tough start to the new year. On the other hand, it is always great to play against Bayern and on top of that, it is a Friday night game under the lights.

DFB.de: On matchday 33 of the second to last season you managed to beat Bayern 2-1. You were subbed on in that game. What memories do you have of the win?

Philipp: It was an amazing game. We were obviously under pressure because we wanted to stay in the Bundesliga and we just managed to make it 2-1 before full time. There aren’t too many teams who have beaten Bayern. This game will last long in the memory. However, we still couldn’t manage to avoid relegation.

DFB.de: Do you think that win could give you confidence going into Friday’s game against Bayern?

Philipp: Obviously I think we will need that little bit of luck, just like we had in that game that we won. We can beat Bayern if we give our all and really apply ourselves, which we have shown that we can do this season.

DFB.de: Are there any players in the Bayern side who you looked up to as a young striker?

Philipp: I learn a lot from watching Robert Lewandowski. He has fantastic technique, great body control and obviously deadly finishing skills. I also really like Thomas Müller’s intelligence on the pitch. He makes runs that no one else does, which makes him very unpredictable.

DFB.de: You have also made yourself unpredictable with the positions that you take up. This season you have already played as the central striker, a number ten and on the right wing. What is your preferred position?

Philipp: I feel most comfortable playing just off the striker. I am not what you’d call a classic striker, but more of a number ten. But I think I can play in a number of positions. I’m just happy being anywhere on the pitch.

DFB.de: For many people, Freiburg were candidates for the drop ahead of the season. Instead, you are currently sitting in eighth place after 16 games. What do you think are the reasons for your successful campaign so far?

Philipp: We haven’t let setbacks detract us from our aim, but have just carried on playing football. We are team who have a lot of desire and commitment and we are prepared to run our socks off. We have deserved the 23 points we have picked up and now we want to build on that. Our main priority is our goal of achieving 40 points.

DFB.de: Before, SC Freiburg’s best players were sold on, but after your promotion, key men like Nils Petersen, Vincenzo Grifo, Marc-Oliver Kempf and you stayed...

Philipp: ...that’s certainly an advantage. The core of the team were used to each other so we had no period of adjustment.

DFB.de: Your first win of the season came on matchday two against Borussia Mönchengladbach and you played a big role, scoring the two goals which turned the game around. Was that the best game of your career?

Philipp: For me personally yes. I don’t often score two goals in a game, it was a world-class performance from the whole team.

DFB.de: Your coach Christian Streich has a reputation of being quite direct, which for young players could be tough at the start. Has this been your experience?

Philipp: I started training with the first team when I was 18. Admittedly, in the first session he said something to me and as a young player you ask yourself – what does he want from me? Why’s he screaming at me the whole time? But he only means well, he was right in what he was saying and it helped me a lot.

DFB.de: In what way?

Philipp: I used to be too anxious and I didn’t have enough self confidence. The coach just wanted to make clear that I can do a lot more than I thought. Also, my physical presence was a key topic back then, I had to work a lot on that.

DFB.de: The coach also seems like someone who is interested in current affairs. In press conferences he’s already spoken about political topics like the US presidential election and right-wing radicalism. Does he also speak to the players about these things?

Philipp: He also talks about these topics with us, mostly as a group but sometimes also individually. I think that’s good – you can’t talk about football 24 hours a day.

DFB.de: Can you think of an example?

Philipp: After terror attacks we’ve spoken about how we can deal with such things. Christian Streich has said for example, we mustn’t compare refugees with the attackers, just because a few of them passed themselves off as refugees. Another thing was that we shouldn’t be scared and carry on living our normal lives, otherwise the terrorists have won.

DFB.de: Back to football now: You were part of Hertha BSC’s youth academy but you were let go at fourteen years of age because you were too small and slow. Did you ever think that the dream of becoming a professional footballer was over?

Philipp: It was really difficult. Hertha was my hometown club. I didn’t know anywhere else. My best friend Christopher Lenz was there for me at the time. We both went to play for Tennis Borussia Berlin. He willingly left Hertha because he knew that I was too shy to go and play for a new club by myself. Afterwards he went back to Hertha and I went on to play for Energie Cottbus.

DFB.de: Your biggest dream is to play in the English Premier League, right?

Philipp: Yes that’s right. Football is played differently in England. I think it’s great that the fans sit so close to the pitch. The atmosphere seems different to Germany, but unfortunately I’ve never been able to attend a game there myself. I also think it’s great that all teams are on a very similar level.

DFB.de: You’ll be playing for the U21s at the Euros in Poland this summer. What are you hoping to achieve?

Philipp: I think we are favourites to win. We are a really good team and have a lot of players who play at the highest level. We could go all the way.

DFB.de: You’ll be facing Italy, Czech Republic and Denmark in the first round. What do you think of these opponents?

Philipp: Italy have a very strong youth setup. We lost 1-0 to them in my first game for the Germany U20s. Denmark U21s have also been doing really well. I don’t know much about the Czech Republic side unfortunately.

DFB.de: Are you itching to score your first goal in international football?

Philipp: No, I’m not the type of player who has to score goals. The most important thing is that I help the team.

DFB.de: Germany U21 manager Stefan Kuntz was once a very successful forward. What is he like as a manager?

Philipp: He is very confident and knows how to deal with the team. He is quite laid-back, but he is good at giving instructions. He puts a lot of emphasis on discipline, but he knows how to have fun too. We all have a good laugh with him. He is a great guy.