Di match between 1. FC Köln and 1. FC Heidenheim for di Rhein-Energie-Stadion don set for Sunday, 17:30. Di game get plenty meaning: Köln don secure dem stay for Bundesliga, but Heidenheim dey fight to escape relegation.
Heidenheim wey dem don write off as sure relegation candidate, now get hope again. After di loss of Wolfsburg and St. Pauli, if Heidenheim win dis match, dem go level on points with di two teams wey dey above dem. Di 3-3 draw against Bayern Munich give dem big confidence.
One young player wey stand out na Hennes Behrens, 21-year-old left-back wey dey on loan from TSG Hoffenheim. He don become regular starter under coach Frank Schmidt. Behrens talk say di team get new belief after di Bayern game. “When we score 2-0 against Bayern, we think: wetin dey happen? Dis fit really happen,” he tell SPORT1.
Behrens say di pressure for relegation battle fit help dem. “When di kribbler no dey, something dey wrong. Dis kribbler dey help us – e dey good to know say we dey play for something,” he add. He admit say e dey check table more often now, but e no dey let am worry am.
Di young defender say e don mature for Heidenheim. “I don become more stable and clear. At first I dey lose ball too much, but I don improve,” he explain. He praise coach Frank Schmidt for di trust wey e give am. “Trust dey key – and I dey get am every day here.”
Behrens say di team dey play more freely now. “Since coach talk about di possibility of second division, we dey more relaxed. We dey play good football and stick together. Di pressure don reduce small.”
For di Bayern game, Heidenheim lead 2-0 and 3-2, but dem draw 3-3 late. Behrens say di point feel like loss at first, but now e dey important. “Before di match, we go take di point. After di way e go, e feel like two points lost – but later e become crucial point.”
Di 21-year-old dey focus on di match against Köln, not on summer transfer talk. “My focus na on 1. FC Heidenheim. I want continue to play Bundesliga. My agent go handle di rest,” he say. He no rule out staying, but he still under contract with Hoffenheim.
Captain Patrick Mainka and midfielder Niklas Dorsch dey among di loud voices for dressing room. Behrens say he dey try to stay calm and positive. “I dey speak my mind, but I prefer to stay positive.”
Di match go decide if Heidenheim go get real chance to survive. Di team don show dem fit compete, especially after di performance against Bayern. Now dem need to win for Köln to keep hope alive.
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