Caci: “Our fans are the twelfth man”

After two strong performances on home soil and a 1-1 draw against SC Freiburg, the 05ers will have another opportunity to pick up some all-important points towards their quest for survival when they take on 1. FC Köln on Sunday, 28th April (17:30 CEST). For the first time since the end of August, Mainz are sat above the bottom three, and are looking to create even more distance between themselves and the relegation zone this weekend. “We’ve worked really hard for this over the past few weeks, and it’s a great feeling. Despite that, we’re aware that we’re not in the clear just yet. We put in another good performance against Freiburg, which has given us a lot of confidence for the remaining games,” explained Anthony Caci.

While Caci is usually positioned on the left of Mainz’s back line, the right-footed defender has been playing on the opposite side as of late. “I’ve now tried out a few different positions. If you’re able to focus on mastering one of them, it becomes a lot more natural and comfortable. I feel at ease and know exactly what I need to do, which is really helpful,” remarked the Frenchman. The 26-year-old has recently been working well with forward Jonny Burkardt: “We train together a lot now and talk a lot during sessions, so we both know how the other works and the sort of runs he’ll make on the pitch. In a game, however, it just happens automatically. We work exceptionally well together, which I think is great.”

Crunch time against Köln

The 05ers have a huge task ahead of them as they prepare to take on Köln at the MEWA ARENA. With a five point advantage over their upcoming opponents, Bo Henriksen’s side will have to leave everything out on the pitch at the weekend in order to pick up some more points. Thanks to their recent run of form and success on home soil, Mainz are certainly in the best position possible to tackle the upcoming challenge. “Self-confidence always plays a big role in football. We’ve been a lot freer for a few weeks now, believe in ourselves more and automatically take on more responsibility. That changes the whole game,” said Caci.

Another victory would see the 05ers move eight points clear of Köln in the battle to avoid the drop. “It will be a difficult game. Köln will be treating it like a final and will give it everything. It might not be a nice game to watch, because it’ll be a real battle, but we’ll do everything we can to get the win.” The team are particularly looking forward to their remaining home games due to the continued backing of the home crowd. “The atmosphere against Darmstadt and Hoffenheim was electric. Our fans are the twelfth man on the pitch. It’s a huge help when they’re behind us from the first minute to the last. It will also pile the pressure on our opponents at the weekend. We’ll start the game with confidence,” the Frenchman said assuredly. There will always be a certain amount of pressure in a game like this, according to Caci, and while that can actually prove to be beneficial, it will be vital for the team to focus only on themselves. “If we go out there, execute our game plan and put in a solid performance, the result will take care of itself.”

A commander in full control of his soldiers

After a long dry spell in the first half of the season, the team have had an impressive turnaround under Bo Henriksen, with four wins, three draws and just two defeats since his arrival at the club. Caci was keen to heap praise on his head coach, and explained the positive impact he has made: “The whole club, the fans, and everyone involved at Mainz have all seen what Bo is like, what a positive person he is and how much energy he brings. That positivity has helped the team massively. For us, Bo is like a military commander who sets his warriors up perfectly for every battle. We’re all singing from the same hymn sheet and know exactly what he wants from us,” says the Frenchman.