Heidenheim’s Frank Schmidt on his team’s final top flight days: “The Bundesliga must be celebrated!” | OneFootball

FC Heidenheim trainer Frank Schmidt has opted to adopt a jovial mood ahead of what will likely be his cub’s final six Bundesliga fixtures. Schmidt essentially conceded the fact that his team couldn’t avoid relegation from the top flight some weeks back. The BaWü club sits dead last in the Bundesliga table on 16 points, has conceded a league high 63 goals, and is beset by injuries. 

Regular contributors Benedikt Gimber, Arijon Ibrahimovic, Hennes Behrens, Jonas Föhrenbach, and Mikkel Kaufman were unable to train regularly with the team this week. Striker Kaufmann will definitely miss the weekend match against Union Berlin. At his Friday pre-match press conference, Schmidt confirmed that wide man Sirlord Conteh is due for season ending knee surgery. 

Heidenheim actually beat Union 1-2 away in the reverse fixture this season. Schmidt’s Ostalbenschwaben also managed to defeat Freiburg at home the following week. Unfortunately, they’ve not won in the Bundesliga since that early December game. Heidenheim – who have won only three league games all season – only had the Freiburg win to give back to their fans. 

A home win over Augsburg in late September was overshadowed by a violent incident involving a hometown fan. In speaking on how much support Heidenheim still enjoy among the local population, Schmidt shared an anecdote about a trip to his local barber. Those he encountered in the barbershop still expressed their belief in the team.

Schmidt on Heidenheim’s final Bundesliga days

“We’ve sone a decent enough job for long stretches this season,” Schmidt remarked at the press conference. “But decent isn’t enough to pick up points in the Bundesliga. It’s incredibly difficult when you can’t celebrate a win for weeks and months. On the other hand, though, I see a team that hasn’t gotten used to it and always tries to get the most out of training. We desperately need these three points for our morale

“The players have to give it their all until the end and realize: This is the Bundesliga and a cause to celebrate, Schmidt continued. “You always have to give it your all, and I demand that from everyone. When I went to out to the barbers, the first person who saw me said: We’re not getting relegated. People also want to give something back after all the successful years past.“

GGFN | Peter Weis