Freiburg Boss Streich Defends Struggling Striker Adamu
Christian Streich, the coach of SC Freiburg, has stood up for his summer signing, Junior Adamu, who is yet to find the back of the net. Speaking ahead of their Bundesliga clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, Streich admitted it's not been a walk in the park for the striker.
Adamu, who boasted plenty of energy upon joining Freiburg, has been hampered by a persistent patellar tendinitis, preventing him from settling into his new team. This issue resulted in him starting just twice for the Bundesliga side, with both matches ending in defeats, most recently against second-division SC Paderborn in the DFB Cup.
The margin of error was slim for Adamu in their recent encounter at Eintracht Frankfurt, as a goal that would've put him on par with his teammates was ruled offside by a few centimeters. Streich believes that Adamu's attitude needs a shift, likening his situation to that of an "ox with all the muscle" that requires a calming influence and a "sense of achievement" to thrive.
Adamu's revival would not only benefit him but would also serve as a morale booster for the SC Freiburg squad following their disappointing cup exit. "After the game, they were disheartened with their performance and the outcome," said Streich, commenting on the players' reaction to the defeat. He spent time analyzing the team's mistakes in detail and discussing the matter with certain individuals to reinforce spirits moving forward.
As for personnel, Streich's options have been limited due to a string of injuries. Only Yannik Keitel could potentially rejoin the squad after overcoming muscular issues. With the ongoing problems plaguing their lineup, Keitel may be called upon to make an impact.
Adamu, the striker for SC Freiburg, is desperately seeking a turning point in his goal-scoring form, as per the coach's assessment. Despite his impressive physicality, the Bundesliga attacker has yet to integrate into the team effectively and missed a critical opportunity due to an offside error in their previous game.
Enrichment Data:
- Junior Adamu joins Freiburg as a Summer Signing in 2022
- Adamu's debut for Freiburg was against VfL Bochum in late August 2022
- Adamu's second start for the team came against Eintracht Frankfurt, subsequently resulting in a 2-0 defeat
- Junior Adamu switched clubs from Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv to Freiburg in 2022
- Adamu was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis, an injury affecting the knee, shortly after joining Freiburg
- Yannik Keitel has been ruled out for 12 weeks due to a leg muscle injury prior to the cup game against Paderborn. He was sidelined in August 2022.
