Frank Schmidt pointed to defensive progress despite Heidenheim's 3-0 friendly defeat to VfB Stuttgart. The test match on Friday evening at the Benzach-Stadion, attended by 3,500 fans, was decided by goals from Atakan Karazor (42'), Lorenz Assignon (72') and Jeff Chabot (86').
Having conceded ten goals in their first three league games, the team, currently third in the 2. Bundesliga with 13 points, has since let in just two more in the subsequent three matches. “Then you simply have to strike, then the compactness pays off,” said Schmidt, calling for more efficiency in attack. The coach views the improvement as a collective learning process on which to build.
Squad Notes from the Friendly
A positive note was the return of Nikolas Nartey to the starting lineup after a long injury absence. The midfielder was substituted after 30 minutes for load management, with Lauri Penna and later Lorenz Assignon replacing him. The team is using the unusually long three-week international break for further fine-tuning. After four days off, normal training will resume.
Another friendly against Würzburger Kickers is scheduled for this Friday (1 p.m.). The real challenge arrives on October 10th, when 5th-placed 1. FC Kaiserslautern visit the Voith-Arena for matchday seven. The focus remains on translating defensive stability into the next competitive fixture.
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Frank Schmidt emphasized after the 3-0 friendly defeat to VfB Stuttgart that 1. FC Heidenheim's positive development is a collective achievement. "It's about the overall behavior of the team," the coach told reporters. The team, sitting third in the 2. Bundesliga with 13 points, caused problems for the Champions League participant with their compactness. Schmidt again called for more efficiency up front after chances went unused.
