The 22-year-old joined Freiburg in 2019 from 2. Bundesliga side, Karlsruher, while he was still in the U19 squad.
He has been on loan at Union Berlin since arriving, but he’s come back into Christian Streich’s side, becoming an influential figure in the team.
He made his debut for Germany last month against Israel and looks like he will make the World Cup team, after an incredible season so far in the Bundesliga. This season he has played in 26 games, scoring four goals and keeping eight clean sheets.
Here is a look at what makes Schlotterbeck a fantastic, talented center-back.
Transition Of Play
The German tends to play in a back five, where he takes up the position as the left-sided center-back, with him being left-footed.
He makes many progressive passes and progressive runs in this position, which turns him into a deep playmaker in his sides setup.
Switching the play is no issue for him with his passing ability, but he can also play direct balls down the channel into the wing-back and the winger.
He adds an extra element when Freiburg are looking to attack, making well-timed passes and dribbling his way out of dangerous positions. For a team that doesn’t dominate in possession, it’s impressive what he can do with the ball at his feet.
His mastery of picking out the passes to fellow teammates such as Christian Gunter and Vincenzo Grifo, starting quick attacks have shown exactly why he’s highly rated by some of Europe’s elite clubs.
Aggressive Nature
Playing in a back five allows the wider center backs to play a more aggressive style, which Schlotterbeck uses to his strength, similar to that of Antonio Rudiger.
He makes several interceptions and tackles in every game, and with the aggressive style of play, they work well at surprising the opponent.
Winning the ball so high up for his team normally results in a lot of quick and early attacks, as they try to catch the opposition off guard.
His pace allows him to move into positions further up the field quickly, cutting out the space for the attacking side. Due to his pace, he is great at recoveries, meaning he can also drift slightly wider to cover runs on the flank.
The high intensity and pressure he offers force the opponent into turning away from the goal, forcing them into a different strategy.
And with playing in the five back, the high-pressure, aggressive style of play makes it harder for the opponent to make runs in behind the defender.
Positional Awareness
The defender is always in the correct place on the pitch, whether his team is out of position or in position.
He covers the areas where the opponent could strike and create potential attacks which cause threats to Freiburg.
Knowing when to step up and when to hold his line is a big part of his game, as he’s always looking out for potential threats.
He covers the dangerous passing lanes behind the defense, whilst also closing the play further up the field.
This understanding he has is so important to his particular style of play.
Aerial Battles
As well as being a defender who is able to use his feet at the back, he is also strong in the air, clearing away any danger in the air.
He’s a danger from set-pieces, as he is able to find space in the six-yard box and rise above the rest to test the goalkeeper.
This also makes him good at clearing any chances such as corners and free kicks.
The use of his pace with this allows him to cover the spaces and put his head in places where the strikers can find space and punish Schlotterbeck and Freiburg.
What Next?
His style of play makes him a great player in a back-five formation, used by the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspurs, and Inter Milan.
However, all these teams have other defenders that are currently at the club, or that will be returning from loans who can also be decisive next season.
It’s believed that Newcastle United and German giants, Bayern Munich are currently monitoring the defender’s progress, despite both of these teams using a back four, which could be a risk due to his aggressive nature, but there is no doubt that he is a very good center back.
It will be hard for Freiburg to keep hold of him this summer, however, with the German team being in European spots at the moment, any deal involving the defender, wouldn’t come at a cheap price.
Whoever has Schlotterbeck next season, whether that’s at Freiburg or elsewhere, know they have themselves a great young center back in their team.
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