Frans Krätzig shines on Heidenheim debut
A January loan arrival from Bayern Munich, Frans Krätzig made an immediate impact for Heidenheim, scoring in their 2-0 victory over Union Berlin on Matchday 16.
After a difficult opening 15 matches that saw them score just 18 goals, Heidenheim needed some offensive reinforcements during the winter transfer window.
Krätzig did not have the start to the campaign he would have wished for either, making just one league appearance on loan at VfB Stuttgart from from parent club Bayern - and even that outing came on the opening day of the season.
As such, it seemed a logical decision for Bayern to send a talented youngster to a team where he would see more playing time, and the early signs have been very positive. Thrown straight into the starting XI on Matchday 16 against Union, the Germany U21 international opened the scoring - his maiden Bundesliga strike - inside 20 minutes as Heidenheim coasted to victory against their ten-man opponents.
After the match, Heidenheim coach Schmidt was glowing in his appraisal of the youngster, saying, "Frans immediately radiated that he wanted to play football, that he was positive, that he was 100 per cent committed to it and wanted to have fun with the team. We needed that."
Krätzig is highly rated at Bayern, and has one goal in seven appearances for the first team. A strong second half of the season would do his chances of breaking through at the Allianz Arena the world of good, and there was no better way to kick things off.
Looking at the bigger picture, this victory was an important one for Heidenheim, who are now one point adrift of automatic safety. With Budu Zidzivadze, the Bundesliga 2's top goalscorer this term, also arriving at the Voith-Arena this month, Schmidt and Co. will be hoping they now have the firepower required to extend their stay in the top flight, especially now that a run of ten top-flight games without a win is behind them.
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