Dominique Heintz has accepted the task of fighting to stay in the Bundesliga as a loan player with VfL Bochum – and knows what it takes.

Dominique Heintz has joined VfL Bochum to help the team in its mission to stay in the Bundesliga. After the heavy 0:7 defeat against Bayern Munich, the player on loan spoke unsparingly about the deficits of VfL that need to be improved – and wants to lead the way in doing so.

Compact defence as key

“We put five goals in for Bayern ourselves,” the manner of the goals conceded would have led to defeat against any opponent in the Bundesliga from Heintz’s point of view. The main problem: “We have to defend more compactly as a whole team.” That’s where Bochum were lacking something, had also been the centre-back’s first impression.

The 29-year-old, who has been in VfL training for just over a week, sees this as the basis for being able to shape games successfully. “We have to work on protecting our goal. By that I mean every single person, including myself,” Heintz also has high expectations of himself. “I will go forward and try to continue to use my experience in training. “

I accepted the task of coming here to help and I will give everything to make things better.

Dominique Heintz

Shutting down the centre had to be an absolute priority defensively, he said. “There were far too big gaps there.” This would only be possible with a cohesive team performance, as there had been at least to some extent against Mainz and Hoffenheim. In the first instance, the formation is not the most important thing.

“It doesn’t matter whether you play a three-man or a four-man defence. Everyone must have the ambition to put in a good performance on the pitch.” From a compact defence, the switching moments forward could then also come into play even more. “We are good with the ball and know our strengths in the offensive. “

“World-class fans” as a big plus

Heintz, who is on loan from Union Berlin, sees the Bochum supporters as another plus. “What they did was world class,” he enthused after his first home game in a VfL jersey. “That’s what you play football for and that’s what I came here for.” The new number 30 also knows, however, that this puts the team under pressure to give something back to the fans.

But in Heintz’s view, the upcoming task will not be much easier. And if anyone needs to know that, it’s him. After all, it’s to a former club of the centre-back on Friday night (26 August, 20:30). “I know what Freiburg are doing, but I want to look at us first,” Heintz does not see any great advantage in the fact that he was under contract with SC Freiburg for three and a half years between 2018 and 2022.