Kohr: “We need positive results to build momentum”

Dominik Kohr has had plenty going on lately. Despite the international break, it’s been anything but quiet for the 31-year-old. Just hours after the final whistle in Hamburg, the Mainz defender became a father for the second time – perfect timing, as he put it. “We were on our way back from Hamburg, sitting at the airport, when I was on the phone with my wife and suddenly she said it was happening. So we flew to Mannheim, I grabbed a taxi straight to the hospital – luckily I made it just in time. Our son was born that night,” he recalled with a grin. “It’s something really special – you don’t experience that often. Our daughter was over the moon too. The international break came at the perfect time for us.”

“You can feel in training that everyone’s motivated”

The match in Hamburg also marked another personal milestone for Kohr, though a rather unusual one. The 31-year-old received his 100th yellow card in the Bundesliga. He took it in stride: “It fits my style of play, really. I’ve played over 300 Bundesliga games now, which means I’ve been booked in roughly every third one. The game has changed, of course – referees hand out cards more quickly these days, so you’ve got to be a bit smarter. But I won’t be changing the way I play.” The evening ended in a disappointing 4-0 defeat, but the timing of the international break was a blessing. “It gave us all a chance to clear our heads and think about other things. It was also important to reflect on the season so far and figure out what we need to improve,” said the Mainz man, who’s been impressed by the energy in training recently. “You can really feel in training now that everyone’s motivated. We’re determined to turn things around. The boys coming back from international duty this week will see it too: the intensity is there, and we’ll carry that energy into the weekend.”

Kohr believes that hard work on the training ground is the foundation for success, but with the packed schedule coming up, balance will be crucial. “The workload will rise with the Conference League matches. You play midweek and then face a team on Saturday or Sunday who’ve generally had a full week to recover – you can’t underestimate that. That’s why the next game is so important: we need a positive result to get into a flow, because once you have that, it helps you build more and more confidence.”

Excitement for games under the floodlights

There will be no shortage of opportunities to build that momentum in the coming weeks – Mainz will play seven competitive games across all competitions between 18th October and 9th November. It’s a demanding schedule, both physically and mentally, but one that Kohr welcomes. “As footballers, we always want to play. When you’ve got seven matches – including five at home – in such a short time, it’s something to really look forward to.” The 31-year-old is especially excited for the evening kick-offs at the MEWA ARENA: “Conference League and DFB-Pokal matches under the lights are as good as it gets. The atmosphere will be incredible. We’ll prepare well and hopefully be able to celebrate with the fans afterwards – that’s the best feeling in football.”

The first of these seven games is Saturday’s home match against Bayer Leverkusen (15:30 CEST). It’s a fixture that evokes fond memories from last May, when Mainz sealed their place in the Conference League qualifiers after a thrilling and chaotic 2-2 draw, featuring three goals disallowed by VAR. Kohr watched from the stands due to injury but remembers it vividly: “The atmosphere that day was something else. I wasn’t on the pitch, but everyone in the stadium felt it. To be able to reward ourselves like that in the end was amazing. You could see how much emotion there was from everyone. The fans were celebrating with us – it was just a shame that Stefan Bell’s goal didn’t count. That would’ve been the icing on the cake.”

“We need our fans from the first to the last minute”

That match could serve as a blueprint for the weekend, Kohr believes. “We’ll need that same kind of performance to get a result against Leverkusen. It’s also really important for us to give the fans something to cheer about after a tough few weeks.” He knows how strong the visitors are too, with the Werkself currently unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga games: “It’s going to be difficult – Leverkusen are a top side and will probably have more of the ball, but that suits us. We want to crank up the intensity, be strong in the duels, and make the most of the chances we get.” The Mainz fans will once again play a key role. “Our supporters are always there for us – even when things aren’t going our way. We need them from the first to the last minute, and we’ll give everything to match their energy. If we do that, I’m sure we’ll get the points together this weekend.”