Mr Freund, Red Bull Salzburg leads the league by six points, is in the quarter-finals of the cup and spends the winter in the Europa League. How do you sum up the exhausting autumn season?

Absolutely positive. We have the same haul of points in the championship as we did last year and are very happy that we’re still in the Europa League in spring. The intensive weeks have left their mark on the boys, which is why we always had to struggle with views. The bitter thing was that we were never able to be on the pitch with the best eleven. Not even in the Champions League games. Despite this, the team has consistently delivered really good performances.

In terms of play, Salzburg does not seem to be at the level of previous years. Why is that?

We’ve had phases where we played really well. I’m thinking of the home game against Milan or the away game at Chelsea. Our boys loved it. At the end we were a bit tired – also because we couldn’t rotate that much. The tank war somewhat empty. Also mentally. We’re playing with the youngest team we originally had. The youngest team in the history of the Bundesliga played against Austria Wien in the championship and also won comfortably. But due to the tight schedule, the boys were pretty much on the limit. Maybe that’s why there weren’t that many fireworks. It was simply important that we won the games again this year. We have now won seven Bundesliga away games in a row for the first time. In terms of consistency, what we delivered in the fall was very, very good

Salzburg have won 17 of the last 18 titles at national level and have the biggest budget of any team. What is the challenge for you in Austria?

In the upheaval that we have again and again. With us, after every season, three or four players take the next step and the next ones die. When you see which talents we have developed over the past few years and then filled well, that is a great attraction. Because the level that we have reached is very high. It’s a big challenge to maintain this despite the many departures. In the past we have succeeded in finding this balance. In addition, all the teams in Austria want to beat us. They hope that one day we will not become champions and that the upheaval will perhaps be too great. That makes the task very exciting and challenging every time.

I believe that the ratings will be very high despite everything.

Friend about the World Cup in Qatar

With Philipp Köhn, Strahinja Pavlovic, Luka Sucic and Noah Okafor, Salzburg presents four World Cup participants. What does that say about the development of the club?

Our level has simply become very high. We also cause a stir internationally and the young players can make a name for themselves with us. It’s important to remember that there are also many players at the World Cup who used to be with us and are now playing key roles at the best clubs in the world in big leagues. That can be quick. Of course, the most important thing for us is that we currently have a good team in Salzburg. So we’re very proud that we expect to have four players at the World Cup. And that, although Austria is not there.

Numerous fans are calling for a boycott of the World Cup. How do you feel about the World Cup being awarded to Qatar?

It is pointless to open this barrel again. That was decided years ago. Whether that was necessary remains to be seen. It is difficult for me to judge how the award status came about. Now we all hope for an exciting World Cup with really good games. The time for such a major event is very unusual, but it can be very exciting. The games are always in the afternoon or evening. I therefore believe that the ratings will be very high despite everything. I’m hoping for a football festival that WILL be very special for the local fans. Since the stadiums are all within a radius of 70 kilometers, you can watch two or three games a day. This has never been possible anywhere else before. That can be a special atmosphere. I hope so. Football should be the focus.

At club level there was the idea of ​​a Super League, and from 2024 the league format will also be used in the Champions League. How do you rate the general development of football?

Everything keeps getting bigger. We’re talking about the world’s largest sports business, where money is becoming increasingly important. There is a risk that the scissors will spread too far. It’s already very big. I think it’s important to keep the David versus Goliath dueling. That is what makes it so special. I think it’s right to divide football into the national leagues and the European Cup. There are also very exciting games in the Europa League or Conference League with teams that would otherwise not get that far in Europe. This brings additional attractiveness and more income activity to smaller clubs. Nevertheless, the Champions League naturally remains the premium product. If a Super League really came along, the appeal of the national games and the derbies would be lost. In my view, this should be avoided at all costs.

As with the Super League, there was some criticism of Red Bull’s entry into Salzburg. The future of the club seems to be secured after the death of founder Dietrich Mateschitz. How do you respond to the criticism that Red Bull uses football largely for marketing purposes and that success can sometimes be bought?

I can only speak for Red Bull Salzburg and say that we have found the spectrum we want to work in. We offer many young players the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. We have a great education and here the boys can become professional footballers at a very high level at an early age. We train a lot of young players who not only play football at Red Bull, but also go to other clubs and live their dreams there. This raised the level of Austrian football. We focus on working optimally in terms of sport and on constantly developing ourselves further. It is important that there are clubs that offer young players this opportunity. Here in Salzburg, the image of Red Bull has changed. You can clearly see that there is a strategy behind it and that we are acting in the interest of the sport. That won a lot of people over and I believe that we have gained a lot of recognition as a result in recent years.

There was also criticism of the short right transfer path from Salzburg to Leipzig. Including Benjamin Sesko, 20 players have already been handed over to the Saxons. “Some former players from Salzburg are in Leipzig, it doesn’t look that great on paper. Nevertheless, it’s damn hard to kick these players,” said Christopher Vivell, former technical director at Leipzig, in our podcast “kicker meets DAZN”. What do you say about this optic?

I think that has changed a bit over the past few years. It used to be the case that players switched to Leipzig. Of course there are similarities regarding the game idea and the philosophy. So it can be interesting for the young players to move to Leipzig. The adjustment phase is certainly a little shorter. In principle, however, it has been the case in recent years that many players have switched to other clubs. I remember Erling Haaland or Karim Adeyemi. That is always a personal decision of the player. There are no guidelines, as is often claimed. The players must and can decide for themselves what is best for them.

Dortmund will still have a lot of fun with him because he simply has special skills.

Friend about Karim Adeyemi

Like you, Vivell was courted by Chelsea after leaving Leipzig. You rejected the offer on the grounds that your story in Salzburg had not yet been told to the end. What is missing for this?

It’s hard to say, because it’s an ongoing process and we’re always subject to changes and new challenges. It’s just a lot of fun for me to work at such a high level at this club and the environment. I’m from Salzburg, I live here, so it’s something very special. I extended my contract in Salzburg last summer. Those are values ​​that are very important to me. At the moment I’m just having a lot of fun. We want to continue writing our history with our philosophy and remain successful. That’s my big goal.

You mentioned Karim Adeyemi earlier. He only had one stand at Dortmund in the fall, but he is still part of the German World Cup squad. How do you rate its development?

Of course I’m still following it. Unfortunately, he was injured at the beginning and then didn’t get into his rhythm. he has already shown what quality he has, but it was a big step for him to go from Salzburg to such a big club with a different environment. But I am convinced that he will score his first Bundesliga goals very soon in the spring. Dortmund will still have a lot of fun with him because he simply has special skills. He has to work that out first and then needs a sense of achievement. It’s always the case with offensive players that it’s easier after goals. Maybe he WILL be used as a joker one time or another at the World Cup and can show off there. I would really treat him to that after this not so easy autumn.

The winter break is now upon us. In which position do you see a need for action?

The squad is really well positioned, both in terms of quantity and at the top. It’s very important that the injured players come back and that we can start the spring season with a full squad. If that were to happen, that would be very positive. Then, in my view, there is no need to do anything. But of course we keep our eyes and ears open because we can already anticipate what could happen in the summer.