News Focus
- Heidenheim finish 17th in Bundesliga after 2-0 loss to Mainz
- Club relegated after three seasons in Germany’s top division
- Manager Frank Schmidt says team deserved to go down
- Coach praises fans and promises quick rebuild for 2. Bundesliga
1. FC Heidenheim will compete in the second tier next season. The club has dropped out of the Bundesliga after finishing in 17th place. They lost 2-0 to 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday.
Mainz scored two goals in the first half. Heidenheim tried to fight back after the break. They created some good chances but could not find the net.
Frank Schmidt spoke to reporters after the match. He is the head coach of Heidenheim. He said his players did not give up at half-time. They wanted to change the result. However, Mainz were the better team on the day.
“We told ourselves that giving up was not an option,” Schmidt explained. “We had chances early in the second half. If we had scored then, the game might have changed. But Mainz deserved to win.”
This result ends Heidenheim’s three-year stay in the top flight. The club only earned 26 points this season. Schmidt admitted this was not enough.
“We deserved to go down,” he stated. “Nobody is happy about relegation. We must be honest about our performance.”
The manager praised the club’s supporters. He thanked the fans, sponsors, and staff. He said their support gives the team strength.
Schmidt promised to rebuild the squad. He wants to create a strong team for next season. The club will play in the 2. Bundesliga.
“We will analyse everything openly,” he said. “Then we will prepare for the new campaign. We have shown before that we can bounce back quickly.”