Irié’s threat stands out in Freiburg win

Cyriaque Irié’s lively display in SC Freiburg’s 3-2 Conference League victory over FK Jablonec earned praise from head coach Julian Schuster, who said the winger had a major influence on the game.

Selected among seven changes to Freiburg’s starting side, Irié repeatedly unsettled the Czech visitors with his pace, dribbling and runs down the right. He twice broke through in the opening five minutes, went close with an individual effort in the seventh minute and forced another save soon afterwards. His delivery also created a headed chance for Lukas Kübler that struck the crossbar.

Schuster wants sharper finishing

Schuster praised the Burkina Faso international’s ability to create danger in one-on-one situations, but challenged him to make those moments count more often.

“There were many, many actions involving his dangerous one-on-one play. I would have liked him to finish off all that work and those moves,” Schuster said after the match. “That’s definitely something we’ll continue working on, so that he rewards himself for those moments.”

The coach also pointed to Irié’s work on the training pitch during the international break as a factor in his recent improvement. “I think you can see that he’s also in better physical condition,” Schuster said.

A more encouraging spell after a difficult adjustment

Irié is in his second season at Freiburg after arriving from French club Troyes in 2025 in a reported €8.5 million deal. His first campaign was disrupted by malaria and the challenge of adapting to a new league and the team’s tactical demands. Freiburg’s competition for attacking places also made regular playing time difficult to secure.

His performances have become more promising since the summer. He scored in a preseason win over Derby County and impressed in the Conference League play-off against Motherwell, including scoring in the return leg. His showing against Jablonec offered further evidence that the progress is carrying into competitive matches.

Irié still faces competition from Jan-Niklas Beste, whose familiarity with Freiburg’s defensive responsibilities has helped him in selection. The next step for the young winger is to pair his growing individual threat with more consistent end product and a stronger command of the team’s tactical requirements.