RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose praises the long-term work of coach Frank Schmidt

RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose speaks highly of the long-term work of coach Frank Schmidt ahead of the game at 1. FC Heidenheim. "I have great respect for Frank and the decision-makers at the club, who have kept their nerve in all phases," said the RB head coach ahead of this Sunday's Bundesliga clash (3.30pm/DAZN).

"Hopefully the guy will be around for a very, very long time, because Frank is basically an outstanding person and has developed a lot there. He also got the time to develop a lot there. He remained calm even in difficult phases, which is always a symbiosis between coach and club."

RB Leipzig will be looking to extend their record run of 16 unbeaten Bundesliga games across the season after their bitter 3-2 defeat at home to Juventus in the Champions League. "We have to be there on Sunday for the tough game in Heidenheim, even if the way we lost is still a bit of an emotional burden," said Rose.

European tailwind for Heidenheim

While Leipzig have had an extra day to recover, Heidenheim go into the game with plenty of momentum following their 2-1 win in their European Cup debut in the Conference League against Olimpija Ljubljana. "We'll see two fresh teams," said Rose, as Heidenheim also rotated with seven players alone. Rose left his changes open, saying only that he had a "lot of players in good shape".

The RB coach decided on the left side of defense. National player David Raum is currently indispensable. "He is a mentality player who has also developed enormously on a personal level. He gives us a bit of what we sometimes lack, greed, gallantry, the last five percent," said Rose. The Saxons have won both first division duels with Heidenheim 2:1 so far. They currently have the best defense in the Bundesliga, having conceded just two goals.