The miracle doesn’t happen: 1. FC Heidenheim is relegated from the Bundesliga after three years, but leaves with its head held high. The fans are honoring the performance of the past few weeks. Bundesliga, DFB Cup, international matches: Here we provide you with the highlights – completely without advertising. Subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SportschauFussball?%20sub_confirmation=1 Sports documentaries, cycling, winter sports and more: https://www.youtube.com/@sportschau?%20sub_confirmation=1 Sportschau on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sportschau/ Sportschau on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sportschau?lang=de-DE Sportschau on Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9i3DXKwqSNjGhkUo46 Sports news at: https://www.sportschau.de/ After the final whistle of the Bundesliga game between 1. FC Heidenheim and FSV Mainz 05 (0:2), almost surreal scenes took place on the Schlossberg. The anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” played, the FCH fans held up their scarves and sang along at the top of their voices, the volume was deafening and finally the Mainz players stood in line applauding for the Ostalb team. After three years, the “Bundesliga adventure” ends for the Swabians – but they go down with maximum respect. “Huge compliment to our fans, that was unbelievable,” said coach Frank Schmidt in an interview with SWR Sport after the match. “Flags are being waved, we’re being celebrated. Where can you find something like that?” That, the calm-looking coach continued, is what’s special about 1. FC Heidenheim. “Our club has always worked like this. There is not only togetherness, but also for each other. It means a lot to me that the disappointment is not taken out on the coaching staff and the team, but that it is seen: We gave everything, it just wasn’t enough.” This posture helps “to get up again and quickly recharge the batteries,” said the 52-year-old. “All of this is happening in our most difficult moment. We can’t be satisfied in any way because we were relegated in the end. But then to receive such encouragement helps and motivates.” The race to catch up over the last few weeks with twelve points from seven games obviously took a lot of energy. Physically, but especially mentally. Heidenheim acted strangely careless and disembodied in defense against Mainz 05, although full commitment, fighting and being unpleasant to the opponent are actually the core virtues of the Ostälblers. A professional and composed performance was enough for the 05ers to take the three points after goals from Phillip Tietz (7th minute) and Nadiem Amiri (43rd). The disappointment was great immediately after the end of the game. “It hurts,” analyzed FCH midfielder Niklas Dorsch after the game. “We had other things planned, but our plan didn’t work.” Captain Patrick Mainka, who hasn’t missed a single minute in three Bundesliga years, saw it similarly. “It’s terribly sad. After falling behind quickly, our heads started to rattle. We didn’t manage to get the momentum on our side,” said the defender. “It just hurts! But the way you say goodbye is the same way you come back. And we can be really proud of the last few weeks. We’ll take that with us.” For Mainka, too, the recognition from the supporters was “amazing. This is 1. FC Heidenheim. We have worked for this.” The 31-year-old appeared clear and composed in the interview. This is what unites him with the other protagonists of 1. FC Heidenheim. For example with FCH boss Holger Sanwald, who looked straight ahead at “Sky”. “We will be back,” announced the managing director: “I am convinced of that. A rebuild, attacking in the second division again, that can also be fun.” It is clear that this rebuilding will be started with Coach Schmidt, whose contract runs until 2027. And Schmidt wouldn’t be Schmidt if he didn’t feel the urge to attack again in the “hardest moment”. “We’ll let it sink in, process it, then we’ll reposition ourselves and make the right decisions. The coach will remain the same as always,” said the 52-year-old looking ahead. “It would be an exaggeration to say that I’m already excited to start training. But that will come relatively quickly because the positive images and emotions will remain. That’s good – and at the same time it means a huge responsibility.” Lineups: Heidenheim: Feller – Busch, P. Mainka, Föhrenbach, Behrens – Dorsch, Schöppner, Dinkci, Ibrahimovic – Zivzivadze, Pieringer Coach: Frank Schmidt Mainz: Batz – Kohr, Posch, Potulski – Widmer, Kai. Sano, Mwene, Nebel, Amiri – P. Tietz, Becker Coach: Urs Fischer Referee: Robert Hartmann #sportschau Fußball
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