FC Heidenheim’s coach, Frank Schmidt, has chosen to maintain a lighthearted attitude as his team approaches what are likely to be their final six matches in the Bundesliga. Schmidt has already acknowledged that his squad couldn’t escape relegation from the top flight several weeks ago. The team currently sits at the bottom of the Bundesliga table with just 16 points, having conceded a league-high 63 goals, and is struggling with multiple injuries.
Key players like Benedikt Gimber, Arijon Ibrahimovic, Hennes Behrens, Jonas Föhrenbach, and Mikkel Kaufman have been unable to train consistently this week. Striker Kaufmann will definitely miss the upcoming match against Union Berlin, and Schmidt confirmed during his pre-match press conference on Friday that winger Sirlord Conteh is set for season-ending knee surgery.
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Interestingly, Heidenheim managed to secure a 2-1 away victory against Union in their earlier meeting this season. Schmidt’s Ostalbenschwaben also managed to triumph over Freiburg at home the week after. However, they have not experienced a win in the Bundesliga since that early December match. With only three league victories to their name this season, that Freiburg win is the only triumph to share with their supporters.
A home victory against Augsburg in late September was overshadowed by a violent incident involving a local fan. Schmidt shared a story about a recent visit to his barber, where he found that the local community continues to support the team wholeheartedly.
Schmidt on Heidenheim’s Final Bundesliga Days
Schmidt reflected on the team’s performance, stating, “We’ve done a decent job for long stretches this season,” during the press conference. “But decent isn’t enough to earn points in the Bundesliga. It’s incredibly challenging when you can’t celebrate a win for weeks and months. On the other hand, I see a team that hasn’t become accustomed to this and always strives to maximize their training. We desperately need these three points to boost our morale.”
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“The players have to give their all until the end and understand: This is the Bundesliga, and it’s a reason to celebrate,” Schmidt added. “You must always give your best, and I demand that from everyone. When I visited the barber, the first person to see me said: ‘We’re not getting relegated.’ The fans want to give back after all the successful years in the past.”