“Not in this condition at the moment”
Heidenheim coach removes vice-captain from the squad
12/20/2024 – 12:57 p.mReading time: 2 min.
Heidenheim is in a results crisis and urgently needs points in the Bundesliga. But the club has to achieve this without a key player.
1. FC Heidenheim will play in the important basement duel against VfL Bochum without vice-captain Lennard Maloney. Coach Frank Schmidt has removed the 25-year-old from the squad.
“He’s fit and has been training again. But I decided not to nominate him for yesterday or Sunday because he’s currently not in this condition to be able to fully focus on the sporting task,” explained Schmidt . There have been transfer rumors surrounding Maloney for some time.
The coach emphasized that in the current phase only players are being used who are fully focused on the club’s interests: “From the coach’s point of view, I would simply like the vice-captain to have a different focus and a different performance.”
Maloney was already missing from the squad for the 1-1 draw in the Conference League against FC St. Gallen yesterday, Thursday. However, Schmidt made it clear that this was not justified by possible contract negotiations: “It’s definitely not about whether the contract will be extended.” Nevertheless, the future development of the American in winter plays a role. The decision was made in coordination with CEO Holger Sanwald.
The promoted team is in the relegation zone with ten points and has been waiting for a win in the Bundesliga since the end of September. The pressure is great: On Sunday (3:30 p.m.) Heidenheim will face bottom team VfL Bochum, who are three points down at the bottom of the table. “Everyone knows what’s going on on Sunday,” said Schmidt. Success would be essential to keep the distance from the relegation places.