Behind Dominique Heintz lies an epidemic year, or rather: half an epidemic year. The professional footballer only collected 28 Bundesliga minutes in the first 17 games of the season for SC Freiburg. Too little for a seasoned central defender like Heintz. “That was not easy for me,” said the winter newcomer of 1. FC Union Berlin in a press round on Wednesday about the recent time in Freiburg – especially since the demotion came as a surprise.
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Unsurprisingly, however, was the consequence that the dissatisfied Heintz drew at the end of December: He terminated his contract in southern Baden and signed a new working paper. In the future, the 28-year-old wants to be successful with Union – and also take on responsibility at his new club. “I am a player who needs responsibility,” he says with a self-confidence that is fed by a total of 181 Bundesliga games.
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Heintz receives shirt number 33
The native of the Palatinate, whose heart still beats for his long-standing youth club 1. FC Kaiserslautern, knows what he is getting into at Union. He had good conversations with trainer Urs Fischer and manager Oliver Ruhnert, “everything’s been going well so far.” . “I’m waiting for my chance and I’ll be happy when the time comes.”
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With Timo Baumgartl and Paul Jaeckel, Heintz, who will receive the shirt number 33 at Union, will probably have to fight an iron fight for the left place in Berlin’s three-man defense chain. Robin Knoche and Marvin Friedrich are considered set. “It can sometimes happen that you are left out,” says Heintz calmly, to whom Fischer shared his chances and possibilities in a one-on-one conversation. It is now a matter of “learning everything quickly, that is the main task.”
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It seems clear: if Heintz (role model: Miroslav Klose), who played up to the A-youth in the storm, uses his full potential, he could soon mature into a solid Berlin defender. Because Heintz has also been brought in to stimulate Union-like development game from their own defense. “I want to help the team a little further,” says Heintz.
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In terms of experience, it is ahead of its competitors anyway. Baumgartl has 99 Bundesliga games, Jaeckel just ten. Only recently both of them gained a lot more match experience than Heintz, who, regardless of this, brings a healthy level of self-confidence to the An der Alten Försterei stadium. Basically he has a good feeling, says Heintz about the move to Union, to an “absolute traditional club”, as he proudly mentions. “The change of scenery is very good for me.”
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Heintz is also good for others. In his hometown of Kirrweiler, where he took his first steps as a footballer, he is socially committed in a variety of ways. Heintz helped finance a hockey rink and initiated charity games for children with cancer with singer and friend Pietro Lombardi. “I’m very attached to my home country,” explains Heintz. Now he’s so far away from home as never before in his career. But no homesickness should arise. “At home in the Palatinate, everyone is happy to get to know Berlin,” says Heintz with a smile. Family and friends should be even more happy when their darling is finally back on the pitch.
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Sheraldo Becker tested positive
Union has to forego the services of Sheraldo Becker at the start of the second half in the Bundesliga. The 26-year-old striker tested positive for a corona infection, as the club announced on Wednesday. Becker is in domestic isolation and is doing well according to the circumstances. The further tests of the first team did not reveal any further abnormalities. Besides Pawel Wszolek, Becker is the only Union player who is currently in quarantine at home. Two days ago, the previously infected Rani Khedira had tested himself free. Union has to play at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday (3.30 p.m. / Sky).
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