First team 28.08.2026 - 18:00 Uhr
Fischer: “In the end, you have to deliver”
Mainz 05 welcome newly promoted Paderborn to the sold-out MEWA ARENA for family matchday on Saturday
On Saturday afternoon, 1. FSV Mainz 05 will begin what is now their 18th consecutive Bundesliga season. Newly promoted SC Paderborn will be the visitors to the MEWA ARENA, where the home sections are sold out, from 15:30 (live on Sky and 05ER.fm). FSV want to live up to their status as favourites and get out of the blocks as smoothly as possible, as Urs Fischer emphasised during Friday afternoon’s press conference. “After seven or eight weeks, we are well prepared. For me and for us, a good start is decisive,” said the Mainz 05 head coach, who at the same time pointed out that the visitors “can certainly make life difficult for us”. That fact does not change the role of favourites, however, with Mainz 05 aiming to reward their fans and themselves with three points on matchday one.
Urs Fischer also spoke at the press conference about...
...the personnel situation: “Eric Martel, Paul Nebel and Silas remain unavailable. With Silas, we need to be more patient than with the other two. Benedict Hollerbach will also get minutes with the U23s, which is something we decided together.”
...Kaishu Sano: “He completed the final training session and is looking forward to the start!”
...the feeling at the start of a new season: “We are happy when points are at stake again. In principle, I go into every season with a positive feeling. After seven or eight weeks, we are well prepared. But it may certainly still take three or four games to fully get into our rhythm.”
...the importance of the opening game: “The most important thing for me is a successful start. It can set the tone for the season.”
...the approach against the newly promoted side: “We have a system and a clear idea of how we want to play football, both defensively and offensively. Of course, you try to bring your own game onto the pitch over 90 minutes. But that doesn’t always work, which is why we naturally also try to give the players solutions to take with them. But that doesn’t always work out as planned — you only win every game in video analysis.”
...the opposition’s style of play: “Paderborn are a team with a lot of intensity. They like to have possession and want to play football. They also repeatedly press in a 5-2-3. They do that well, but we also see opportunities to hurt them.”
...Mainz 05’s Bundesliga record against newly promoted sides: “The last five opening games against newly promoted teams were lost. What can I say? No, but seriously, the season is starting, the stadium is full. We need a good day and our basics, even though we know that Paderborn will make life difficult for us.”
...the task for his team: “After pre-season and the cup game, we received a lot of praise. Who doesn’t like that? But at the end of the day, you always have to deliver. We are aware of the fans’ expectations, and a win is our aim as well. Tomorrow at 17:30, we’ll know more.”
