ThoseShock at the FCB-SFC summit –Alex Frei: “To have a chance, Servette will have to be strong in his head”
Importance of the mind, Sunday in Basel (4:30 p.m.), for all garnets: it is one of the keys to the match for Alex Frei, who knew the two clubs well.
Posted today at 6:05 p.m.
A leader of men, Shaqiri, a team and a stadium behind him: that’s all that awaits Servette on Sunday for the shock at the top of the Super League.
Marc Schumacher/Freshfocus
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- Alex Frei, ex-player of Basel and Servette, evokes the shock at the top of Sunday between his two former clubs.
- The top scorer in the history of the Swiss team evokes the key to the garnet match: knowing how to mentally resist Basel pressure.
- Alex Frei talks about Shaqiri and the garnet players he loves.
In every sense of the word, he was a significant player for Basel and for Napkinshe is still the top scorer in the history in the Swiss team (42 goals in 84 selections) and Sunday, Alex Frei will not miss the shock at the top of the Super League which opposes his two former clubs. If he has put his career as a break on a break, after managing Wil, Winterthour, Basel and Aarau, Frei still has an eye on the Swiss championship.
HAS The day before the shockhe took the time to talk about this match, Basels who are six points ahead in the standings, from Genevans, almost sentenced to the feat of a victory to dream again, of everything that could happen.
Two big clubs
With Basel which has experienced problems since its last title in 2017 and Servette which has been rebuilt since 2015, after the extrasportive calamities of the beginning of the century, there are there, at the top of the ranking, two major clubs.
Alex Frei played for Basel (which he also trained) and for Servette. On the eve of the shock, he looks at his two former clubs.
Nicole Pont/Tamedia
“Yes, that’s a bit like,” said Alex Frei. Basel has encountered difficulties in recent years, but now manages to find behind -the -scenes stability, which allows him to shine again on the field. Servette may have missed opportunities to hit a big blow, this season or the last, but it is there. I see a well -structured club, with an excellent sports director in the person of René Weiler. ”
Championship curiosity
Basel six points ahead of Servette In the standings: this is the first time of the season that the Super League has seen a leader assume its place and escape, without apparently trembling, until then.
“I believe there are good teams in the Swiss championship,” says Frei. With a certain level. But there are no longer three players per training that can really make the difference and wear a group. In fact, there is only one team that has this type of player, only one, and it’s Basel, with Shaqiri. And that is enough, so far in any case. The creativity of this kind of player is lacking in our championship. So everything is possible, if no one makes the difference. ”
His gaze on Basel
No mystery: with Xherdan Shaqiri on the ground and other elements of quality, the FCB is scary.
“YB has worked very well for six or seven years,” explains Frei. But seeing the Bernese with eight matches and zero point in the Champions League is not good for Swiss football. This shows that it is difficult to stay on the highest step for a long time, keeping the same quality, the same requirement, far ahead of others. What happens to YB has arrived in Basel too, but Basel is back now. It is the largest club in Switzerland. ”
His gaze on Servette
From Servette, Alex Frei experienced the best, just before 2005 bankruptcy. After having a little garnet, he went to shine in Rennes, then in Dortmund. But what does the servette today inspire him? Can he become as strong as before?
“But of course Servette can still grow,” exclaims her ex-drummer. Above all: Servette is already a name abroad. He has a story. I do not forget the problems that have existed, but I note the seriousness that prevails now. In a way, Servette is still careful, does not take inconsiderate financial risks. And that’s fine. And he moves forward. It’s very good too. ”
What garnet on Sunday?
Basel, Sunday, it’s a hell of a shock to launch the final round. But what to expect? In the cauldron of the Saint-Jacques park, in front of more than 30,000 spectators, which serve to resist?
Alex Frei smiles. “You will have to be strong!” he asserts. We sometimes talk about the key to the match. Here it is the head. To have a chance, Servette will have to be strong in her head. Each player will have to be very mentally. If three or four are not ready, are impressed by the atmosphere that will reign, by the Basels who will be ready, if there is a share of fear or fear, then it will be finished for garnet. “
What to do with Shaqiri?
This spring and even before, Xher Decides everything for Basel: fourteen goals and 17 assists this season, series in progress. The N ° 10 of the FCB goes where it wants, the tailor -made knitted system by Celestini allows it. He won, he dezone, he invents insane passes, he strikes all the balls arrested with surgical precision. In short, he is unstoppable. Really? What can serve in front of him?
“Are we talking about control Shaqiri?” Questions Frei ironically. Good luck, it’s very hard today. An individual defense on him can be considered, why not, but it is complicated if he escapes. Isolate him by cutting the lines of passes to him? Maybe, to see. But obvious: if you arrive, in one way or another, to remove Shaqiri from the Basel equation, then you have undoubtedly found a good part of the solution. Even if the concern is that Shaqiri is not the only one that must be wary in Basel. So yes, I repeat it, it will take a strong servette, everywhere. “
Servettians he likes
Relaunching the championship and especially its own title hopes is Servette’s mission on Sunday, which must aim for victory. To immense challenge, exceptional men: Who are these men, for Alex Frei?
“I don’t know Personally Dereck Kutesa,” he said, “but I like this player. I even wonder Why is it sometimes placed on the bench at the kick -off. Micha Stevanovic: It’s strong, very strong, I like it. I really like Timo Cognat too. And I love Alexis Antunes. It has great potential. Now it’s up to him to find real constancy in his performances. I sometimes hear people who talk about him and say: “Yeah, he is good, but …” This “but” must no longer exist, he can still cross a level. And repeat the great performances match after match. This is how we get really strong. But that is also what is hardest in football. ”
No prognosis, Alex Frei does not have fun. He will taste the show on Sunday, in front of his television. He will then see what Thomas Häberli prepared to counter Basel and Shaqiri. Something is planned, but Servette FC coach did not specify what.
Daniel Visentini is a journalist for the Geneva gallery, 24 hours and in the morning on Sunday. For seven years he was the head of the Sports section of the Genève Tribune. He closely follows football news, including that of Servette FC and the Swiss team.More info
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