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Also wants to make a good impression in the Bundesliga: Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt. © imago
The Bundesliga check, part 8: 1. FC Heidenheim The newcomer brings little experience and quality with him, but the Swabian Christian Streich
The newcomer is hardworking, was the first club to start pre-season and is doing two training camps at the same time. Physical fitness is intended to make up for some football deficits compared to the competition. More importantly, however, the first year in the football upper house should be fun for the players. “If you don’t want to, you should stop,” says striker Tim Kleindienst. One suspects it: A major fire is approaching in Heidenheim.
How strong is the squad?
The Heidenheimers have a squad that could outsmart various football greats and play in the top third of the table – in league two, mind you, the long-standing home of the FCH. Hertha, Schalke, HSV – the players from Brenz no longer have to hide from the fallen giants, as they have proven over the years. But Bundesliga? Absolutely new territory. The squad combines exactly 99 first division appearances, fewer than at any other club. Heidenheimer first division expert is Norman Theuerkauf, once under contract with Eintracht Frankfurt, substitute. He made 29 games for Braunschweig. He is followed by Eren Dinkci, on loan from Werder Bremen (25). Yes, they will have to experience it first, but they are looking forward to it. Every game will be special, even the opening matches against Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim. Not every club can say that about itself.
What is the coach up to?
At least not to a personality cult, and certainly not to oneself. He casually dismissed the statue announced to him by board member Holger Sanwald after his ascent: “Nowhere,” says Frank Schmidt, did he want to see it erected, after all “we’ll pee there at some point.” A clever man, above all an authentic one, who seems to be looking beyond the glittering world of football. Comparisons with Christian Streich, the unique coach from Breisgau, come to mind. Schmidt was born and raised in Heidenheim, learned to play football at FCH and later led the provincial club from the fifth to the Bundesliga within 16 years. The 49-year-old’s tools are not entirely unusual in coaching, as he relies above all on an intact group and a strong sense of community. If you drop out, you get a second chance, but nothing more. There are no footballing antics under Schmidt’s strict hand, hack tricks, side pulls should have sensible intentions as far as possible. Schmidt players are fit, tactically well prepared, greedy, biting, strong-willed – and inferior in quality to most other Bundesliga professionals.
Where else is there a problem?
arrivals and departures
Additions: Eren Dinkci (Werder Bremen, loan), Marvin Pieringer (Schalke 04), Tim Siersleben (VfL Wolfsburg, committed after loan). Omar Traore (VfL Osnabrueck), Benedikt Gimber (Jahn Regensburg). Nikola Dovedan (Austria Wien), Luka Janes, Frank Feller, Seedy Jarju (all own U19).
Departures: Merveille Biankadi (Arminia Bielefeld), Marvin Rittmüller (Eintracht Braunschweig).
Oh, actually it’s going quite well, the preparation according to plan. Coach Schmidt pulls through his (exhausting) program, there were no important departures, the signings were decided early on. Basically, of course, there is a lack of Bundesliga experience and quality. But be it, that’s the attitude.
Who stands out?
Should coach Schmidt ever read these lines, his hair would stand on end. Because of course he is, the weird guy (purely optically because of an ossification of the cervical spine) from the Ostalb, who stands out. He is the face of the club, the figurehead, even without a statue. A real collective gathers on the field, with leaders like goalkeeper Kevin Müller, the defenders Patrick Mainka, the captain, and Marnon Busch or the village elder Norman Theuerkauf, 36. In the offensive department, of course, the team can show the highest quality. Leading the way with second league marksman king Tim Kleindienst, a man of stature, 1.94 meters tall, with long bones and yet surprisingly smooth turns. And at the back with the nimble swirlers Jan-Niklas Beste and Nikola Dovedan. Good kickers always – can they show that in league one?
What is inside?
A nice year in the Bundesliga, which will have some highlights for Heidenheim, even defeats against great powers from Munich or Dortmund are somehow included. Many an opponent will underestimate the FCH, lose points and possibly then fall into crisis talk. But all in all: In the end it goes down again, which will not knock the club down. Bundesliga is a bonus, second division is everyday life. For 1. FC Heidenheim, it will certainly still be a welcome one after this season.
FR-TIPP_Heidenheim_2023-01.jpg © FR
The Bundesliga check and all published betting tables can be found at: fr.de/tipptisch
2023-07-30 02:51:00
#Heidenheim #major #fire #Brenz
