By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- When it comes to Freiburg coach Christian Streich, football is more than silverware and titles.
"We don't define ourselves over titles and trophies," the 56-year-old said after having lost the 2022 German Cup final in a thrilling penalty shoot-out to RB Leipzig.
In the dark moments of a defeat, Streich turned the attention to the hidden values of football delivering a role model for all sports.
"I can't be upset at the moment," he said only an hour after a disappointing defeat in his and his club's first German Cup final.
"So many extraordinary things happened around our game. People met after years. Tens of thousands of supporters celebrated peacefully. We enjoyed the massive support of our fans and saw a team carried by an unbeatable team spirit," he added.
The 2021/2022 season in general might have given proof of football's basic values as so-called soft skills such as team spirit and commonly shared passion played a significant role.
Counting on a rather low budget compared to the big clubs, Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt made their way to new borders.
While Frankfurt won the Euro League supported by hundreds of thousands of celebrating fans on its tour through Europe, the small club from Germany's Southwest delivered a moving example of joy football can provide.
"My wife told me what happened in all of these fan trains and the streets. I am flattered and deeply touched. At present I just can't be upset about the defeat," Streich said.
The coach and players enjoyed the cheers of over 30,000 fans in the Berlin arena after having lost an important game.
Over the past years, Freiburg delivered an encouraging example of how to survive in the overheated business of professional football.
A remarkable consistency delivers a role model to follow when it comes to dealing with ups and downs aside from a well-oiled talent-breeding.
Consistency seems the key factor shaping Freiburg's story. "I desperately hope we can preserve this. It's so important and affecting everyone's life," Streich added.
Unexpected success doesn't inevitably trigger new expectation standards. "At the same time, we don't kick someone out, when things end up in the second division," Sporting director Jochen Saier said.
Saier has been around for 20 years aside from technical director Klemens Hartenbach counting on 21 years. Streich is working in Freiburg since 1995 in several positions, taking over the first team in 2012.
"This culture isn't dropping down from the skies. It takes intense efforts to keep it alive," Saier stated.
"We try to stay authentical, no matter what happens," Saier said.
Not only that seems to have increased the club's attractiveness.
"We all know about less happy days and, that they might come again. The more it is important to stick to your way," the official added.
Or as coach Streich put it: "It's special to be in a final, but you can lose it." ■
