After his brilliant performance ultimately decided the match, 1. FC Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt showed how proud he was of FC Bayern Munich loan player Paul Wanner.

With a number of summer departures and a busy schedule ahead of the start of the 2024/25 German football season, 1. FC Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt faces the enviable task of getting his side in shape for a three-competition campaign just a year after they began their first-ever campaign in Germany’s top flight. So far, things have gone surprisingly smoothly. The Albogeners won their cup tie last weekend, mastered a UECL qualifier in Sweden on Thursday and returned to Germany to grab three points from FC St. Pauli today at the “Fortress Millerntor” in Hamburg.

Schmidt again rotated his team heavily. Only captain Patrick Mainka, midfielder Jan Schöppner and winger Leo Scienza remained in the starting eleven. Summer newcomer Paul Wanner, Schmidt’s choice in the number ten position, took on a great deal of responsibility in attack. The young German-Austrian prodigy seized the opportunity and finally scored the first goal in the 66th minute with his very first Bundesliga goal.

In an interview with the German broadcaster DAZN after the game, Schmidt raved about Wanner’s abilities. The FCH coach revealed that he had spoken to Wanner during half-time. Wanner put the ball in the net after a lightning-fast counterattack by Heidenheim. He was assisted by none other than attacker Marvin Pieringer, who Schmidt had substituted on just four minutes earlier.

“He (Wanner) does that (the counterattack) brilliantly,” said Schmidt, “he sprints over 60 meters without the ball. At half-time I told him – after he shot flat in the first half: Goal!”

“He learns quickly,” added Schmidt with a smile, “he’s outstanding at football. He’s also in good physical shape now. We don’t have to teach him much about football. But this counter-pressing, always being active, always being on the ball. That’s why he’s with us and that’s what he’ll learn from us.”