bundesliga

Paul Wanner on Heidenheim's rise and following in Jamal Musiala's footsteps at Bayern Munich

13.09.2024

Paul Wanner has enjoyed a fantastic start to life in Heidenheim and has long been tipped for a big future. Here, he talks to bundesliga.com about his new environment and playing with superstars at Bayern Munich...

bundesliga.com: Heidenheim are top of the Bundesliga table, have qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League and you have made an instant contribution with your goals. Does that put you on cloud nine?

Paul Wanner: "No, I feel relatively normal. I think we know that we started well. We already collected important points this season, but we know that we have to continue like this. On Friday the next opponent is already coming and we want to perform like we did in the last games."

bundesliga.com: The club is not used to being in this position. What is the current environment like?

Wanner: "You do notice that there is a small euphoria, but it's good that we can concentrate on football here. I think that helps all of us and like I said, we will just try to keep the momentum going and be ready on Friday."

bundesliga.com: What are you expecting from the next match in the Bundesliga, against Borussia Dortmund?

Wanner: "It's still just football, but of course, it's nice to play at a stadium like that. We're all looking forward to the game, but we are also going there to win."

Watch: Paul Wanner - rising star

bundesliga.com: How is it working with Frank Schmidt as head coach, who has already developed a lot of talent?

Wanner: "He's an experienced coach from whom you can learn an incredible amount of things. I knew what was awaiting me here and that is why I consciously decided to come here. Playing without the ball and with intensity are aspects that I can learn with such a coach. This will help me immensely in the future."

bundesliga.com: You could played international for Germany and Austria. How will you represent?

Wanner: "First of all, I'm happy that both of them are trying to have me in their team. However, my focus is at Heidenheim and then let’s see for which nation I turn out for."

bundesliga.com: As a Bayern Munich player, you were recently loaned out to Elversberg in the second division and now to Heidenheim - both comparatively small clubs with modest histories. Were these deliberate moves?

Wanner: "What's really good is that at smaller clubs the focus is completely on football and you can develop really well. Also, in small clubs like Elversberg or here in Heidenheim I know where I still have to improve. Elversberg and Heidenheim are two really good clubs where I can improve in the aspects I want and have to."

Frank Schmidt (l.) will surely help Paul Wanner (r.) develop at Heidenheim. - IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto

bundesliga.com: What is the difference between everyday work as a professional footballer in Munich and Heidenheim?

Wanner: "The targets are completely different. Everything around the place is different as well. I can concentrate completely on football here, which is really good for me. We have a team where everyone stands for each other and you can see that when we are playing. The coaching staff, which has been here for a long time as well, is also a huge support. You can learn a lot from them. I'm really happy to be here."

bundesliga.com: Even in your young career, you have worked with superstars such as Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala. What was it like to share dressing rooms with such players?

Wanner: "What I have to say is that all of them are really nice. They welcomed me in a really lovely way. I still remember when I came, Jamal was also still very young, so it wasn’t that bad, because somehow he took me in. As time went by more players came, like Joshua Kimmich for example, who also told me how to do this and that. That helped me a lot.

"They are very friendly people and you can learn an incredible amount of things from them. I can’t pick out a particular moment that was extremely helpful. I can just say that it was a really great time at the beginning and like I said, they welcomed me really warmly and it was a really good fit."

bundesliga.com: How would you describe yourself as a footballer?

Wanner: "I think I'm a courageous player, who can also take responsibility on the pitch, but still radiates calmness. I think I really want to learn from anyone but especially from the experienced players. I think I'm quite humble, I have a lot in front of me and I want to continue working on myself."

Jamal Musiala and Wanner (l-r.) have played together for Bayern Munich. - IMAGO/Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON

bundesliga.com: You play very boldly and take a lot of risks. Where do you get the confidence to play like that?

Wanner: "I don’t really know. I think that is just my way of playing. To take courageous decisions and perhaps also make the difference in the end. I just try to help the team in the best possible way and so far this has worked out pretty well."

bundesliga.com: How much planning and how much instinct is there to your style of play?

Wanner: "I think there's always some instinct needed, you can’t always be prepared for everything. Then it is also just gambling, especially in the final third of the pitch. I also have my qualities there, for example when one against one."

bundesliga.com: In which areas do you still need to improve?

Wanner: "Defensively, for sure. I have a lot to improve in this aspect and in terms of intensity and counter-pressing. Mentally, I need to work on perseverance and always staying positive and believing that something still can happen."

bundesliga.com: How important is football in your family, a sport both your father and grandfather played to a decent level?

Wanner: "Football is a part of my life every day. We're always talking about football, especially after games. However, they did not push me into football, nor do they now. It's quite chilled and it fits very well. My family is definitely football oriented."

bundesliga.com: Apart from your parents, who else influenced you as a footballer?

Wanner: "When I transferred to Bayern, Alexander Moj was my coach for two or three years. He helped a lot and was also really important for me. Later Halil Altıntop came as well, with whom I also has a good relationship. Now Richard Kitzbichler, Christoph Freund and Max Eberl are important and I speak to them a lot. All of them give me a good feeling and also tell me what I can improve and what I must improve, while also telling me what I already do well. They're helping me on my journey."

bundesliga.com: What does it mean to you to play in the Bundesliga?

Wanner: "Of course, I watched football when I was younger, especially in Germany and the Bundesliga. It's really nice when you can play yourself at 3.30 now. It is crazy to see, also in Bundesliga 2, that there are big clubs and the stadiums are always sold out. It just makes it a lot of fun to play in front of such scenes and I think that this is something that pushes me on as well."