The loan of Bayern Munich youngster Paul Wanner to FC Heidenheim is going very well, with the young German surprisingly being handed the #10 jersey and becoming one of the key players of the Bundesliga side. But it was still a surprise for most when Wanner decided to play for a team tipped by many to finish near the relegation spots instead of a team higher up the table. There were, after all, plenty of offers from such teams on the table for the former Ravensburg youth player.
Sitting down for an interview with Sky Sports, reporter Kerry Hau immediately queried, after asking how he is bedding in at Heidenheim, why Wanner chose to go to the recently promoted side. Here is what Wanner had to say: “It’s going very well for me. I feel very good here. The team, the coach and the coaching staff have all made me feel very welcome. The reasons for transferring here is that I can focus in peace on football and developing further as a player. And I can work on the things that I cannot do as well.”
Such a quote is ripe for more questions, so Wanner was queried on what exactly those things he cannot do as well are. The Bavarian native had one specific answer: “Intensity, especially off the ball. That is a big deal here [at Heidenheim] and I need to still develop in this regard, but I am on my way there.”
This weakness has been one identified long ago in the Bayern academy and has been the single biggest critique the youngster has had in his formative years. The loan last season to SV Elversberg in the 2. Bundesliga was similarly designed to help him improve his intensity and off the ball work. Now Wanner is looking to continue this development in the Bundesliga.
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