SC Freiburg has ordered its entire first team to complete a 90-minute warm-up ahead of Thursday's Conference League playoff against a yet-to-be-named opponent, with coach Julian Schuster insisting the routine is essential to «activate every muscle fiber for the intensity of the tie.» The squad reported to the Europa-Park Stadion at 6 a.m. on match day, where they were met by a fitness staff of 14, each assigned to monitor a single player's heart rate, sweat output, and willingness to sprint backward.
The warm-up, which began with a lap of the pitch carrying sandbags to simulate match weight, has already forced the club to reschedule the team bus, cancel the pre-match press conference, and install three additional hydration stations along the touchline. Players are required to perform 500 passes into a net, 200 headers, and a full tactical rehearsal of the first 15 minutes of the game, all before the referee has even arrived. «If we can survive this, the actual match will feel like a holiday,» said captain Christian Günter, visibly drenched after the 60th minute of stretching.
Club officials have confirmed that the warm-up will be extended to 120 minutes if the team concedes a goal in the first half, and that a second warm-up session has been scheduled for the morning after the match, win or lose, to «cool down properly.» Local physiotherapists have reported a surge in bookings from players seeking ice baths, while the stadium's groundskeeper has been ordered to re-paint the penalty box twice to account for the extra foot traffic. The club's sports director, Klemens Hartenbach, defended the decision, stating, «We are not here to play football; we are here to prepare for it, and preparation has no end.»