1. FC Heidenheim welcomes FC St. Gallen in the Conference League on Thursday evening. Managing director Holger Sannwald emphasizes the importance of the encounter in an exclusive interview.
1. FC Heidenheim’s goal for the home game in the Conference League against FC St. Gallen (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. live in the European Cup Conference on RTL and on RTL+* as well as in the sport.de live ticker) is a victory, Sannwald made it clear in an exclusive interview with RTL/ntv and sport.de.
“We haven’t achieved the results recently as we could imagine. It’s important to get back on the road to success in the Conference League. We still have two important games before Christmas: St. Gallen and Bochum at the weekend. Others already have in the Christmas spirit, we’re still under pressure. We finally want to win a football game again,” said the 57-year-old.
1. FC Heidenheim is urgently looking for a sense of success after seven competitive defeats in a row. “There have, of course, been easier phases. Seven competitive defeats in a row are a number. But we mustn’t forget: We had to play against four teams from the top 6 of the Bundesliga. Plus Chelsea. What annoys us most is the performance we put in in Istanbul “We should have done better,” said Sannwald, analyzing the most recent games.
1. FC Heidenheim wants to reach the round of 16 of the Conference League
1. FC Heidenheim lost 3-1 at Istanbul Basaksehir last week and is in 15th place in the Conference League with nine points before the final matchday. If they want to make it into the top eight teams and thus qualify directly for the round of 16, they need a win in the home game against FC St. Gallen.
Sannwald also recalled “the double burden from the Conference League”. “Furthermore, after a very successful year in the first league, we are perceived completely differently this season. Last year we were underestimated and laughed at, but then we made a name for ourselves,” said the FCH managing director, classifying the recent negative series.
Now it’s important to defend better, take advantage of your own scoring opportunities and not have bad games. Sannwald continued: “We had a big upheaval situation in the summer, maybe some of the young players aren’t ready yet, then we have to look at possible new additions in the transfer phase, which is now coming in the winter. We’re also talking about professional football here, it’s possible about jobs and the further development of the club – if you can’t perform, then we have to change the squad. After Bochum and St. Gallen at the latest, we have to act.”
“Fear is a bad advisor in life”
1. FC Heidenheim is currently in the relegation zone in the Bundesliga with ten points after 14 match days. Sannwald remains combative: “Fear is a word I don’t know – because it is a bad guide in life. I face every situation and approach things offensively.”
He has “respect for it, it won’t be a sure-fire success, but we know that in Heidenheim too. Before the season we already knew that we were among the relegation candidates, but we are also prepared for it. But we also enjoy facing the challenge Our goal: to stay in the Bundesliga, whether on the last matchday or in relegation,” he explained.
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