Schmidt on Müller's slapstick whiff: "It wasn't funny to us."
FC Heidenheim trainer Frank Schmidt made clear that he and his team didn't find goalkeeper Kevin Müller's blunder nearly as funny as most observers after it cost his team a home match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon.
Schmidt also defended lead striker Tim Kleindienst; who continues to have trouble finding his finishing touch in crucial situations.
A own-goal sure to populate footballing blooper reels for years to come played quite the significant role in sending 1. FC Heidenheim to just their second defeat of the new calendar year on Saturday afternoon. FCH defender Benedikt Gimber attempted to play a ball back to his keeper Kevin Müller after SGE net-minder Kevin Trapp booted a ball up the pitch in the 39th minute of Heidenheim's home fixture against Frankfurt.
Schmidt also defended lead striker Tim Kleindienst; who continues to have trouble finding his finishing touch in crucial situations.
Müller was unable to compensate for a tricky hop the ball took as he prepared to thunder out his own clearance. As a result, the ball skipped past him and into the back of his own net. Gimber was credited with an own-goal as Eintracht took a 1-0 lead. Afterwards, frustrated FCH trainer Frank Schmidt wished to make clear that he blamed neither Gimber nor Müller when speaking to the Sky microphones.
"You can't blame him [Gimber]," Schmidt said, "because [Omar] Marmoush was putting him under pressure and he didn't have time to take a couple touches. It was extremely bitter to watch Frankfurt take the lead like that."
"It's annoying to concede such a slapstick goal," Schmidt continued, "It may have been funny to many, but not to us. We were the better team in the first half. We had more of the play and more shots on goal."
"We were the only team playing after [Dina Ebimbe's 2-0]," Schmidt concluded, "We deserved at least a point. We worked hard. My team put in a really good performance."
Not unlike a recent 0-0 result at home against Dortmund, Schmidt had to contend with the fact that lead-striker Tim Kleindienst blew an excellent opportunity to alter the result. Kleindienst spurned the best chance to make it 2-2 after Marvin Pieringer pulled a goal back. Kleindienst's trainer emphasized that, frustration aside, his lead-striker continued to put in a lot of effort for his club.
"He [Kleindienst] had to make it 2-2," Schmidt said, "but I don't want to blame him. He worked very hard. Fatigue also played a role. It's just a shame."