Vincenzo Grifo speaks on spectacular goal and addresses competition with Derry Scherhant

1

SC Freiburg legend Vincenzo Grifo enjoyed a memorable return to Julian Schuster’s starting XI in Thursday evening’s 3-2 Conference League victory over FK Jablonec. The 33-year-old opened the scoring with a spectacular direct free kick and subsequently supplied the corner that produced Freiburg’s second goal.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone afterwards, Grifo explained the meticulous planning behind his opening goal and also addressed the increasingly fierce competition for his preferred position on the left wing. Grifo struck in the 15th minute after defender Max Rosenfelder’s excellent individual run drew a foul on the edge of the penalty area. The Italian international subsequently curled his effort into the goalkeeper’s corner.

Grifo explained that Freiburg had deliberately organized their players to obscure the goalkeeper’s view before creating a shooting lane at the decisive moment. The routine required considerable discussion and preparation, but the execution worked exactly as intended.

Grifo reveals planning behind Jablonec free kick

“We talked about it for quite a while and arranged the wall a little. It took some time,” Grifo explained when asked about the goal. “I said I wanted to shoot into the goalkeeper’s corner and that the others should move away just before I took it. Today it worked out just as we’d imagined.”

Grifo’s influence extended beyond the opening goal. His corner in the 53rd minute produced the Dušan Pavlović own goal that restored Freiburg’s lead following a VAR review. The performance offered another reminder of Grifo’s continued importance to Freiburg. Only four days earlier, he had come off the bench to supply Keisuke Goto with the decisive winning goal against Schalke 04.

Grifo addresses competition with German international Scherhant

The veteran’s contributions have acquired additional significance amid Derry Scherhant’s remarkable emergence as a German senior international. Scherhant’s performances have transformed the competition on Freiburg’s left flank. As discussed extensively in our Get German Football News 2026/27 Freiburg tactical preview, the former Hertha BSC attacker entered the summer as Grifo’s understudy but gradually established himself as a genuine alternative for the starting XI.

The 23-year-old has since enjoyed an excellent beginning to the season, with his outstanding display against Eintracht Frankfurt providing further evidence of his development. Scherhant was unavailable for Thursday’s Conference League fixture because of injury, while Grifo started as one of seven changes to Freiburg’s lineup. Asked how he viewed Scherhant’s emergence and recent national-team recognition, Grifo made clear that he harbored no resentment toward his younger teammate.

“Of course I congratulated him and told him: ‘Brilliant, keep it up,’” Grifo said when Kicker’s Carsten Schröter-Lorenz asked him how he was handling the competition. “But I didn’t tell him that I was going to make life difficult for him. He’s still my teammate. Of course, we both play in the same position. I’m someone who can be happy for others. Anyone who knows me knows that. But of course, this is football. Everyone wants to play.”

Grifo nevertheless acknowledged that the competition has changed and that he now needs to fight for opportunities rather than assume his place in the team.

“He’s had the upper hand recently, but I have to wait for my chance and keep putting myself forward,” the veteran explained. “I enjoy playing football and I think that’s the most important thing. When you have that hunger and that enjoyment, evenings like tonight can happen, when you set one up and score one yourself.”

Grifo stressed that remaining fit and prepared for his opportunities was essential, while also acknowledging that the final decision rested with Schuster. Different matches could also require different personnel, depending on the tactical approach.

Grifo open to No. 10 role against Leverkusen

An alternative route into the starting XI may present itself on Sunday when Freiburg travel to Bayer Leverkusen. Japanese international Yuito Suzuki will be unavailable after receiving two yellow cards during Sunday’s victory over Schalke, leaving Schuster with a decision to make regarding his central attacking midfield position. Asked whether he could imagine starting in Suzuki’s place, Grifo expressed considerable enthusiasm for the possibility.

“Definitely conceivable, because I actually started out in that position,” Grifo explained. “I really like that position. You have a bit more freedom there, you’re something of a free spirit. We’ll have to see what the coach has in mind, but I don’t think it’s something that can generally be ruled out.”

Grifo was subsequently reminded that he has rarely occupied the position during competitive fixtures for Freiburg.

“I only came on as a No. 10 once, against Motherwell,” the Italian international recalled.

The possibility of deploying Grifo centrally offers Schuster another potential solution to Suzuki’s suspension. It would also allow the Freiburg trainer to accommodate his veteran set-piece specialist without necessarily having to displace Scherhant on the left.

For now, Grifo appears determined to embrace the competition rather than resent it. Thursday’s performance demonstrated that, even as Freiburg’s younger attacking talents continue to emerge, the club legend remains capable of delivering decisive contributions whenever his services are required.

GGFN | Peter Weis