Heidenheim’s Frank Schmidt laments an excellent Bundesliga performance that produced no points: “No style or grace points like in figure skating.” | OneFootball

FC Heidenheim remain dead last in the Bundesliga table after falling to Augsburg away this weekend. In commenting on the team’s fourth consecutive loss, FCH head coach Frank Schmidt found himself in a much better mood than last week. The fact that his team fell to a narrow 1-0 away defeat courtesy of a late penalty did significantly improve the coach’s general feelings about the team.

Schmidt praises his team via an Olympic reference

“We deserve to feel a tad unlucky when one takes the entire game into account,” Schmidt noted in his opening statement. “After an evenly matched first half, we were able to gradually play our way into the game and had our chances. Augsburg were eventually pinned back in their own half. We had many important ball wins and plenty of chances to finish.

“We did great work in and outside the area,” Schmidt continued. “We should have taken the lead. When one has so many chances, not to mention all that space in and around the 18, one absolutely needs to score. [After the 1-0 from the penalty spot in the 80th], it was a totally different game in the last 10 minutes.

“Overall, I feel like my team delivered a good and stable away match performance,” Schmidt concluded. “I thought the body language was solid and that they improved throughout the course of the match. Alas, there are no points for style and beauty as this isn’t figure skating.

Schmidt still optimistic about Heidenheim’s prospects

Schmidt referenced specific chances produced by his players. Two January acquisitions – Christian Conteh and Eren Dinkçi – were able to make their mark. Conteh (finally fit after arriving with injury) played from the start on the left wing in his first Bundesliga appearance.

Dinkçi worked as a deep seated ten in front of a double-six set-up of Julian Niehues and Jan Schöppner, doing well as a pincer-distributor and assisting on chances from both his midfielders. Bayern loanee Arijon Ibrahimovic also turned in a solid performance on the right flank opposite Conteh.

New January acquisition Hennes Behrens cycled up strongly behind Conteh from the left-back position. Conteh’s elder brother Sirlord and striker Marvin Pieringer also looked strong off the bench. 

“I believe one saw not hope, but actual belief from the team today,” Schmidt noted at the end of the press conference. “They believed they could get something today. It wasn’t an easy task for the team. I told them to forget ab out the possible permutations [relating to the relegation race]. It was all about winning a match and experiencing success. 

“This isn’t the first time we’ve had out backs to the wall and been dealing with a big [points] gap,” Schmidt concluded. “And I think that it didn’t hinder our approach to the game or [the execution] of the match-plan. In every game of 2026 thus far, we’ve had enough chances to grab more than the two points we’ve grabbed thus far [in seven 2026 fixtures.]“

GGFN | Peter Weis