"We can only celebrate once it’s done"

Just one final step stands between FSV and securing Bundesliga survival on matchday 32. If the 05ers pick up at least a point away to FC St. Pauli on Sunday (15:30 CEST), they will no longer be able to slip into the bottom three and would know, with two weeks of the season still to play, that they will be competing in the Bundesliga again next term. In the Kiezkicker, Mainz face a direct rival in the survival battle, with St. Pauli currently 16th and still able to climb out of the bottom three.

"Get the job done and take that final step"

It’s been a turbulent few weeks for Mainz. The Conference League quarter-final exit away to RC Strasbourg was followed by a last-minute equaliser in Mönchengladbach, before FSV then left the MEWA ARENA empty-handed against FC Bayern despite leading 3-0 at half time. Even so, head coach Urs Fischer believes there was plenty to take from that game into the next task at St. Pauli, with his message to the squad unchanged: "We want to get the job done at St. Pauli and take that final step."

URS FISCHER on...

…the squad: “All the players who were involved last time will be available again on Sunday. Jae-sung Lee is making progress and will do a bit more work with the ball again next week – then we’ll see whether he can be involved in one of the two remaining Bundesliga games.”

...on the mood after the last game: “The team dealt with the game well and reflected on it properly. We analysed it in the days afterwards and spoke about it again – because there were plenty of positives we can take from it, but also things we simply can’t afford to do against FC Bayern. The group looks focused to me, but still relaxed enough in the right moments. We’ve put the last game behind us and are now preparing for a difficult away match.”

...on the turnaround in the Bundesliga: “Ultimately, it’s been a team effort – everyone has played their part, and you don’t achieve something like this alone. Everyone has the same goal in mind, especially the lads on the pitch who make the difference. I don’t think any of us would have dared to imagine a few months ago that we’d be where we are in the table now, but we can only celebrate once it’s done.”

...on Sunday’s game: “We want to get the job done at St. Pauli and take that final step. It would be nice if I could look into the future and already know the result, but I’m expecting a very intense, tight game. It’s two teams who bring a lot of physicality, carry a threat from set pieces and won’t give each other much space.”

...on the key to success against St. Pauli: “We need to build on our performances from recent games – with the exception of the away match in Strasbourg, which wasn’t good and which we’ve spoken about enough. Against Freiburg, though, I thought we played a really good game and the result didn’t reflect how it went. Against Bayern, we unfortunately didn’t come away with anything despite leading at half time, but the performance was good, and that’s something we have to take with us to FC St. Pauli as well. It’s about getting the basics right, being clinical and making good decisions.”