“A good connection”

With each passing week, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that Nadiem Amiri is an 05er through and through. The celebration following FSV’s second goal last weekend against Darmstadt, where Amiri was the first to sprint over to goalscorer Brajan Gruda and stood with the 19-year-old in front of a jubilant sea of red and white Mainz fans, is perhaps the most irrefutable proof of this so far. The creative midfielders stood with their index fingers touching as the crowd went wild – as Amiri put it, the gesture is symbolic of the “good connection and chemistry” between the two of the most technically-gifted players in M05’s squad. They still need to practise the celebration, but, since making the switch, Amiri has gelled well with each and every one of his new teammates, not least the aforementioned Gruda. “We’ve worked hard over the past few weeks to build that sense of trust within the team again. It’s only been possible thanks to positive results and good performances.” The five-time Germany international has had a huge part to play in both of those departments.

Amiri has made ten appearances for FSV since making the move to the Bruchweg – on all ten occasions, Mainz’s number 18 has been named in the starting line-up. In that timeframe, the 05ers’ point tally has more than doubled. Since the very beginning of his spell at Mainz, the tricky midfielder, who only saw limited game time at Bayer Leverkusen during the first half of the campaign, has proved himself to be a leader in the dressing room with outstanding footballing quality. The only thing that Amiri was missing was time on the pitch. In Mainz, Amiri found exactly what he had been looking for – unconditional faith in his ability as a player and a lot of minutes. This is not just down to the 27-year-old’s three goal contributions and the key role he has played in the build-up of many more, including two last time out against Darmstadt. He’s also proven himself to be a rock for his teammates, in addition to being the axis of Mainz’s attacking play on the pitch. “I’m really happy. I feel like I’m back at my best. I’m getting the opportunity to play and can feel that everyone believes in my ability. Since the beginning, I’ve been saying that, every day, I want to give it my all, whether it’s in training or in matches. That’s still my goal, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job so far.”

“Wow, today’s the day”

The move proved to be an immediate success for both the side in the relegation battle and the Amiri family. After become parents for the first time last summer, the midfielder and his wife Nele often felt alone in Düsseldorf, so didn’t have to think twice about the offer from Mainz. Returning to Ludwigshafen would only bring about positives for the both of them, as the pair would be moving closer to their family and friends, which was an important factor in Nadiem’s decision to join Mainz 05. “I simply wanted to reignite my passion for football and not spend my career sat on the bench. It also felt right from a personal perspective, as my family are based in the area. Everything worked out well for me.”

Amiri has certainly been won over by the 05 family, as well as the atmosphere around the Bruchweg, in the city and at the MEWA ARENA. “We work hard in training, and it’s clear to see that the whole of Mainz is behind us. The key for success is for us all to stick together,” urged Amiri, before sharing his experience of last weekend’s 4-0 win over Darmstadt, where the 05ers picked up a vital three points towards their fight for survival. “As soon as the team bus pulled out of the hotel car park on the way to the stadium, we started to see fans wearing Mainz shirts, and we could really sense the excitement and anticipation surrounding the game. The stadium was buzzing during the warm-up, and that’s when we realised: ‘Wow, today’s the day’. Thank god we were able to give something back to the fans in return for all their support.”

The 05ers have taken another step in the right direction, and managed to reduce the gap between themselves and 15th-place VfL Bochum to just three points, but will have to continue pushing if they want to climb further away from the relegation zone. However, it cannot be ignored that the 05ers are not in the clear just yet, and the boys will have to head into their next game as if it were a final, staying focused and not crumbling under the pressure. Thankfully, the midfielder is feeling positive about the upcoming challenge: “Playing when under pressure is the best part of the game. I enjoy the feeling and need it so that I can put in my best performance. We’ve already proved that we’re capable of rising to the occasion, as we did against Darmstadt, Bochum and Leipzig. You could also see how high the stakes were when we faced Augsburg. Every game is important, but on Saturday, we need to give it our all and even go that step further. We’re set to take on an opponent with a lot of quality in their ranks and ambitions of competing in European football. It will be tough, and we’ll need to have the fans and the city behind us in order to be successful.”

A special reunion

The upcoming meeting with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday, 13th May (15:30 CEST) at the MEWA ARENA will certainly be very special for the 27-year-old, who spent seven years in the upcoming opponent’s ranks and made 115 appearances in competitive fixtures for the side. “The club is an important part of my life and I hold it very close to my heart,” explained Amiri, who, despite the inevitable joy surrounding his reunion with the fans and players, is not expecting to be blinded by sentiment at the weekend. Instead, the midfielder is concentrating on preparing for the clash in the way he would any other, and is hoping to make his mark on Saturday against his former club. Amiri shared how watching back videos of his set pieces after a game helps him to recognise ways in which they can be even more effective and dangerous. “I always aim to improve my approach and technique when I strike the ball,” he explained. The 05er believes that he is an all-rounder on the field, in terms of his shooting ability, assists, focus throughout the 90 minutes, and the leadership qualities he obtained through his wealth of experience. “If I’m able to help the team and do my bit, then it’s been a good day,” expressed Amiri, who has displayed his teamwork skills since the day he arrived at the Bruchweg.

The Mainz midfielder is hoping to have this effect on his teammates once again when the 05ers take on Hoffenheim in a sold-out MEWA ARENA, which he’s keen to bring alive with some goals on Saturday afternoon. If the side come out on top, the 27-year-old is also planning to take a trip to

Leverkusen to watch his former club and the current league leaders take on Werder Bremen in their quest to claim the club’s first ever Bundesliga title. “I’ve already bought my ticket,” said the 05er, who still feels a strong connection his old team. After making eight appearances for B04 in the first half of the 2023/24 season, it would only be fair for the midfielder to get some credit if the side were to win the trophy. Despite this, Mainz’s ongoing relegation battle is naturally the priority.