1. FC Heidenheim has been waiting for a win in the Bundesliga for five games, but coach Frank Schmidt's team is generating enthusiasm internationally. Is the balance between the league and the conference league successful?
When Patrick Mainka, in his striped jersey with the rainbow armband on his arm, throws himself into duels again and again in stoppage time, tackles as if the game had just started and loudly motivates his teammates in the penalty area, then it doesn't seem like that The captain of the Heidenheimer is tired after the many English weeks, after long journeys and new routines.
But – for captain Mainka and his teammates, this is all new. Many players have not yet played internationally and only knew the balancing act between the Bundesliga and European business from the Playstation. But this season things are different.
Heidenheim international
The 1. FC Heidenheim international – sung about by the fans, celebrated by the club, always labeled as a pleasure rather than a burden by coach Frank Schmidt. But: “The strain has been high in the last few weeks. Especially on the head,” says Schmidt in an interview with SWR Sport. The many games, long evenings and short nights, have left their mark.
FCH has been without a win in the Bundesliga for five games – and looking at the program until Christmas may not have necessarily provided any relief on the Ostalb during the international break.
End boss at the end of the year
After almost two weeks of training and a few days off, the previous season's champions Bayer Leverkusen await in the Bundesliga on Saturday (3:30 p.m.). On the 1st of Advent, Frankfurter Eintracht will be guests on the Ostalb. This is followed by the games at Bayern (December 7th, 3:30 p.m.), at home against VfB Stuttgart (December 15th, 3:30 p.m.) and shortly before Christmas at VfL Bochum (December 22nd, 3:30 p.m.).
Four final opponents – the professionals on the Playstation would probably say – and then the journey to Castroper Straße, which no one in Heidenheim will underestimate. With regard to the Bundesliga, Frank Schmidt says: “It continues. This is a challenging situation. We want to accept it – and master it.”
No nervousness on the Ostalb
After the defeat against Wolfsburg before the international break, the experienced coach wanted to ensure that none of his players let their already full heads hang. “The team now needs a few days where they are not in the rhythm of constantly having to be at the limit.” After all, that's exactly what Heidenheim's recipe for success has been so often in recent years – playing at or above the limit, pushing the boundaries, again and again.
The fact that Schmidt addresses the mistakes in this very sensitive phase in the league, but remains objective after a bitter defeat like against Wolfsburg, protects his team and shows sensitivity – also for the mental stress in the past weeks and months – could be in the coming weeks make the difference. Schmidt and the people in charge in Heidenheim don't tend to get nervous early on anyway. This sometimes distinguishes the Ostalb club from the competition.
Further, ever further
“Continue working,” Schmidt summed it up succinctly and precisely after the game against Wolfsburg. “We haven't had the opportunity to train much recently.” But that changed this week. “We have a normal training week with a view to the game in Leverkusen and that will be good for us.”
And not just how the coach and team could address what has recently been a problem in the league – for example, that the Heidenheim team created plenty of chances in the defeat against Wolfsburg or the goalless draw against TSG Hoffenheim, but all too often the efficiency in The offensive was lacking and after the final whistle, in addition to the low fog in the stadium, the feeling remained that FCH could have won these games.
Chelsea as a highlight game
The emotional situation in the Conference League is completely different. The Heidenheimers are still unbeaten, are exciting on the Schlossberg or in Scotland and are expecting a top European team in Chelsea FC (Thursday, November 28th, from 6:45 p.m. in the Sportschau live center). The game at the end of the rather dreary November is a highlight game in the historical category for the Heidenheim team.
Maybe Mainka will throw himself into the late duels against Chelsea again, as if the setbacks and travel strains of the past few weeks hadn't happened. The captain hasn't missed a minute in the Bundesliga since Heidenheim's promotion – and therefore knows that FCH has been without a win in the league for five games, but thanks to the strong start to the season, they are currently no worse with ten points from ten games there it says than last season.
