SC Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster has revealed the extensive work undertaken by his coaching staff to help Japanese international Yuito Suzuki overcome a difficult spell. The 25-year-old responded with an outstanding performance in Sunday’s 2-0 Bundesliga victory over Union Berlin, scoring his fifth league goal of the season and earning Get German Football News‘ Player of the Match honours.
Suzuki’s 67th-minute finish, calmly lifted over onrushing Union keeper Frederik Rønnow following a high recovery and pass from Derry Scherhant, supplied the crowning moment of an industrious performance. The Japanese international had threatened on several previous occasions and even initially received credit for Freiburg’s 55th-minute opener before replays established that Rani Khedira had turned Jan-Niklas Beste’s ball into his own net.
The goal ended a frustrating period for a player who had begun the 2026/27 campaign in sensational fashion. More importantly, Schuster’s post-match comments revealed that Suzuki’s return to form was the product of considerable attention from Freiburg’s coaching staff.
Suzuki’s struggles had become a talking point in Freiburg
Those following Suzuki’s development will recall that Get German Football News profiled the Japanese international’s physical and technical progression shortly before October’s international break. Suzuki had opened the Bundesliga campaign with a hat-trick against Werder Bremen and subsequently scored an excellent volley in Freiburg’s 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Having overcome considerable adaptation difficulties during his first season in Breisgau, the former Brøndby IF attacker appeared ready to assume greater responsibility following Johan Manzambi’s departure to Aston Villa. The initial progress nevertheless gave way to a difficult spell. Suzuki’s unfortunate dismissal against Schalke 04 on matchday five interrupted his momentum.
Schuster criticized his player’s loss of composure after the match, even as the Freiburg trainer praised the collective response that enabled his ten-man side to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory. Suzuki subsequently struggled to rediscover his earlier attacking influence. Meanwhile, fellow Japanese international Keisuke Goto continued to make a compelling case for additional playing time. The 21-year-old followed up his late matchwinner against Schalke with another decisive substitute appearance in Freiburg’s DFB-Pokal victory over Wolfsburg.
Freiburg executive identifies the source of Suzuki’s difficulties
In a detailed November 3rd Kicker report, veteran German footballing correspondent Carsten Schröter-Lorenzexamined the Japanese international’s declining influence and spoke with SCF sporting director Klemens Hartenbach. The statistical findings were noteworthy. Suzuki had averaged a disappointing Kicker rating of 4.7 across five competitive fixtures. His involvement in possession had declined considerably, with his touches per 90 minutes falling below 40 against Jablonec and remaining unusually low in subsequent appearances. His duel statistics had also deteriorated.
Interestingly, the running data suggested that Suzuki’s problems could not simply be attributed to a lack of effort. In several matches, his distance covered and sprint figures had actually improved compared with the opening weeks of the season. Hartenbach instead pointed toward the expectations Suzuki faced following his spectacular start. The sporting director explained that the player had been frustrated by what he considered insufficient playing time with the Japanese national team. After enjoying tremendous support in Freiburg, Suzuki had struggled to maintain the same carefree approach.
Hartenbach described a player whose mind had begun racing and who found it increasingly difficult to recover when relatively simple actions went wrong. Hartenbach noted that Suzuki lived from his spontaneous creativity and found himself overthinking touches. The sporting director’s prescription was revealing. Suzuki needed to return to his high-volume running game, defensive commitment, and willingness to regain possession rather than focus excessively on producing goals and assists.
Five days later, Schuster would explain how Freiburg had attempted to put precisely that approach into practice.
Julian Schuster reveals conversations with Suzuki
Speaking at Sunday’s post-match press conference, Schuster was asked directly about Suzuki’s recent difficulties by Kicker journalist Daniela Frahm. Frahm referred to the player’s dissatisfaction with his own performances and questioned the Freiburg coach about the work undertaken to help him overcome the slump.
“Yes, he did [voice dissatisfaction with himself],” Schuster responded. “There were more than a few conversations, also with some of my assistant coaches. There’s been a lot of solid work invested to ensure that no one gets left behind.”
The Freiburg trainer acknowledged that Suzuki’s earlier success and his subsequent involvement with Japan had brought challenges that were not always easy for a young player to process.
“I think it was logical [from him],” Schuster continued. “We got off to a good start this year, then Yuito – like many of the other lads – was on tour with the national team. One hears things. Things get into one’s head that aren’t easy for a young person to deal with.”
“If one wishes to be successful in the long run, it’s important to keep it relative and remain grounded,” Schuster noted. “It’s important to remain grateful and constantly remind yourself that success can come both as an individual and as a collective. And to realize where development and progress comes from. It’s totally normal and logical that careers and progress aren’t a constant upward trend. Everyone experiences occasional dips. In such times, it’s important to not focus on goals or assists, but the basics that can help deliver a good performance.”
Suzuki’s specific instructions against Union Berlin
Schuster’s concluding remarks offered the clearest insight into how Freiburg had prepared Suzuki for Sunday’s match.
“That was Yuito’s specific instruction today,” Schuster concluded. “It was to concentrate on that solely. To work against the ball, to raise his intensity to the point that he could physically and mentally compete. To simply use his vision to make the right moves on the ball, initiate the right contacts, and try to look for the right depth. He did that today and it’s very important that he delivered such a performance today.”
The tactical instructions closely resemble the qualities Schuster had already praised earlier in the season. As noted in GGFN’s October player check, the Freiburg coach was particularly pleased with Suzuki’s growing appreciation of the defensive responsibilities expected of an attacking midfielder.
Sunday’s performance supplied further evidence that the lessons had not been forgotten.
Suzuki covered 10.53 kilometres, registered 25 sprints, and reached a top speed of 32.9 km/h against Union. He recorded 44 touches, attempted three shots, and consistently sought opportunities to attack the spaces opening up around the visitors’ defensive structure.
The goal itself was important. The response to the coaching staff’s instructions may prove considerably more significant.
After a month in which Suzuki’s form and starting position had increasingly come under discussion, Schuster’s assessment suggested that the Japanese international had taken an important step toward rediscovering his confidence.
Hartenbach had identified the necessary ingredients five days earlier. Against Union Berlin, Suzuki finally brought them together again.
