Schmidt praises Ramaj’s team spirit as Feller “happy to play”

Frank Schmidt’s decision to change goalkeepers was one of the topics after Heidenheim’s big win over Köln.

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

22-year-old Frank Feller played his second Bundesliga game of the season in Heidenheim’s 3-1 win away in Köln. On the big occasion, Frank Schmidt decided to give the second-choice goalkeeper, who missed the entire first half of the season due to injury, a chance.

"When we communicated our decision to Diant (Ramaj) yesterday, he said he was expecting it,” Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt revealed after the game. “And, then, I asked him if we could count on him. He replied back, 'I count on you guys, too.' This is how we interact with each other. We are a unit!"

Ramaj unfortunately conceded the 101st-minute equalizer against FC Bayern after Michael Olise’s strike hit his back after it ricocheted off the post. Feller should also have done better to save Marius Bülter’s effort from a tight angle for Köln’s goal, although he had a decent game overall.

“After we led 3-1, we defended with clear intent. Then, there was another incredibly important moment where Frank Feller saved a header very well,” added Schmidt as he gave the understudy his flowers.

"I'm always happy when I get to play,” said Feller after his fourth Bundesliga appearance. “It did feel a bit like a debut because it had been a while since I last played. I was also really happy to play in front of such a crowd. My whole family was there," said the shot-stopper who joined the club at the age of 15.

Feller will be expected to keep his place for next week’s home game against Mainz. If they succeed in usurping Wolfsburg and St. Pauli, who will lock horns simultaneously, Heidenheim will play the team that will finish third in 2. Bundesliga.