Heidenheim’s Coach Criticizes Team After Defeat Against Mainz

Frank Schmidt, the head coach of 1. FC Heidenheim, offered a stern assessment following his team’s 0-2 loss to 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga. „Overall, we are simply not good enough; we must be honest about our ability to win games in the Bundesliga. This is not sufficient,“ Schmidt stated after the match.

This defeat marked Heidenheim’s fifth consecutive loss in league play, following a morale-boosting victory in the Conference League playoffs against FC Copenhagen. With a seven-point deficit from safety, relegation fears are mounting.

Offensive Struggles Highlighted

Schmidt emphasized that the team should have taken the lead if they had hoped to secure any points. „Everyone tried, but we struggled to create clear scoring opportunities,“ he remarked. The coach listed numerous deficiencies, including a lack of clarity, quality, decisiveness, and impact in their offensive play. He noted that in their debut Bundesliga season, the team may have benefitted from a sort of ’newcomer protection‘ that they no longer enjoy.

In their earlier encounter this season, Heidenheim secured a victory against Mainz, marking their third win by the fifth matchday. Since then, however, they have managed only one additional win.

Threat of Direct Relegation

Goalkeeper Kevin Müller voiced his frustrations during an interview with DAZN, stating, „Week after week, it is the same story. We are too harmless in attack and not good enough in front of the goal. We also struggle defensively.“ He stressed the need for the team to address these issues earnestly.

With twelve matches remaining, Heidenheim is at risk of slipping into direct relegation. They currently sit on the relegation playoff spot, tied on points with VfL Bochum, while Holstein Kiel, at the bottom, is just one point behind.

Psychological Challenges Acknowledged

Schmidt pointed out that it would be misguided to discuss the possibility of catching up to other teams. „We first need to defend our position, and that will be extremely challenging,“ he noted. He also acknowledged the need for significant improvement in offensive quality.

Additionally, he mentioned that overcoming negative experiences is difficult, admitting, „We will likely receive five emails from sports psychologists with their ideas. We have started receiving those again recently. I wonder why we didn’t need them in previous years?“

Upcoming Challenges

This Thursday, Heidenheim will focus on their European campaign, facing Copenhagen once more with a chance to reach the Conference League Round of 16. Following that, they will face a tough away match against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.