Luck is also a matter of attitude: For Laura Freigang, her goal against FC Barcelona in the Champions League is one of the highlights of 2023 that she would like to build on in the future. Image: picture alliance / Joaquim Ferreira
In an interview, Laura Freigang talks about a football year with shadows and light, the fickleness of the national team, the horror of Rubiales’ kiss attack and why mental coaching is so important for her.
Laura Freigang, what will stick with you from 2023?
I always get confused during annual reviews. Sometimes I think in seasons and sometimes in years. What I particularly remember are, on the one hand, the big tournaments, these special trips with the national team. They are the best players who come from all corners of Germany – you take responsibility for more than just yourself. You do that for the club too, but with the national team it feels more comprehensive, with a different touch. Because you come together for a specific, time-limited cause and everyone has the same goal. This is all outside the normality of everyday life, especially when you’re flying halfway around the world like you did for the World Cup Down Under. Spending months together is not normal. Pushing your limits every day is not normal. That creates a special atmosphere – and that made the early elimination even more frustrating. We all know what huge potential this group has. Sporty and humane. The feeling of having missed this opportunity with this team was frustrating.
