Freiburg's Scherhant hails club-record start and revels in Germany breakthrough

Freiburg's flying winger on record start, Germany bow and looming tests

Derry Scherhant says Freiburg could hardly have scripted a better opening to the 2026/27 campaign after the club collected seven wins and a draw from their first eight competitive matches — the best start in the club's history.

The 23-year-old winger, who has registered two goals and seven assists in all competitions this term, sat down with bundesliga.com to reflect on a remarkable run that has carried Freiburg to the top of the Bundesliga.

"I don't think we could've imagined it better. It's been a very good start for us. The team's just working really well together. We also get on really well off the pitch. Everyone knows our play, what they need to do. I think we're seeing that a bit. We'll just try to build on it all," Scherhant said.

The run has been built on togetherness as much as talent. Freiburg underlined their resilience on 12 October, when they extended their Bundesliga lead despite playing much of the second half with 10 men against Schalke, winning through Kaisuke Goto's 85th-minute header, with Matthias Ginter's understated reaction capturing the club's growing ambition under Julian Schuster.

Scherhant's fine club form earned him a senior international breakthrough, with the winger collecting his first two Germany caps during the September-October international break.

Attention now turns to a punishing week of fixtures. Having navigated the opening stretch, Freiburg face Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco and Bayern Munich in quick succession.

"Correct. We know we're only five matchdays in and we've got teams with real quality to come. I think we're best served in general when looking at the table to take things one game at a time. We're focused on the coming opponents. We're doing that and will try to win every game, but we know it won't be easy," Scherhant acknowledged.

In the Bundesliga alone, Scherhant had made five appearances with one goal and two assists by 14 October, underlining his importance to a side setting the early pace.