“Results will help”

The joy of the first win at the MEWA ARENA in eleven months against Heidenheim was unfortunately short-lived, as just a few days later, the 05ers were disappointed to find themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against Köln, having led the game at half time. Nonetheless, little has changed going into matchday 19 – the fight to stay in the division remains a marathon, not a sprint. “If we had the recipe, we’d use it and the matter would be settled,” said Mainz’s head coach in his press conference on Friday, referring to the leads that his side have let slip in recent games against Union Berlin and Köln. “Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. I do believe it also has something to do with the situation we’re in,” the Swiss continued. Another positive result against Wolfsburg would be just what the doctor ordered to further strengthen the confidence and self-belief of the 05ers.

Day of Remembrance in German football

Saturday’s game – expected to draw around 28,000 spectators – forms an important part of this year’s Week of Remembrance in Mainz. Various campaigns, exhibitions and lectures will take place throughout the city until 21st January under the motto “Together for Remembrance and Diversity”.

Germany’s top two leagues mark this day as the “Day of Remembrance in German Football”, with all clubs supporting the “!NieWieder” (Never Again) initiative. "!NieWieder Auschwitz!” is the urgent appeal of survivors and witnesses to both current and future generations.

Urs Fischer on...

...this week’s training and his squad for Saturday: “The week went well. Nelson Weiper, Benedict Hollerbach and Nadiem Amiri have returned to training and are available. Arnaud Nordin and Nikolas Veratschnig have muscular issues but no structural damage. This weekend comes a bit too soon, but both should return to training next week. Robin Zentner, Anthony Caci, and Andreas Hanche-Olsen remain unavailable.”

...Stefan Posch: “First impressions were good. He played 45 minutes in Serie A for Como on Monday, but is still a candidate for the squad and also for the starting eleven against Wolfsburg. It wasn’t just me who wanted him – we all wanted this. Stefan has quality, a lot of international caps and has played for Como and Bologna, where he was a regular starter. He knows the Bundesliga and understands what’s at stake. Most important to me was how he expressed himself. He’s up for it. That’s something a player must be given our situation. I see him as a centre-back, but if things get tight, it’s good to have someone who knows how to play as a full-back.”

...the Austrian’s quick integration and his strengths: “I reckon he’ll integrate quickly. In Italy especially, a lot of emphasis is placed on tactics, so players are very well versed in that regard. He’s already familiar with a lot of our tactics that we’ve introduced to him, which helps. He’s confident on the ball, has good speed, anticipates situations well and with his height he’s a goal threat at set pieces. He doesn’t shy away from challenges and I hope we’ll get a lot out of him.”

...potential new signings: “We’re having conversations about new transfers every day. The three we’ve already made have come in and given us a lot of new options, as well as increasing the competition, which I think is a good thing. There’s nothing better as a coach than having a tricky decision to make about who starts.”

...his analysis of recent games: “If we had the recipe, we’d use it and the matter would be settled. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. I do believe it also has something to do with the situation we’re in. Things that should come naturally just aren’t there at the moment. It’s important that we stay active and don’t become passive. Results will help you get back to that point, and you can take positives from one game into the next one.”

...Wolfsburg: “They’re a quality side and you can see the influence the coach has on them. They want to keep the ball. You begin to see their patterns over the 90 minutes. They’re versatile as well and can attack quickly with their fast players like Wimmer and Amoura. You have to be ready for that and not give them space. They will try and play through pressure, especially out wide, make runs in behind and occasionally play a long ball over the top. They are both flexible and creative.”

...Ben Bobzien’s loan: “A young player needs minutes. It didn’t look like he would get them with us to the extent he needed. That’s why it was important to make a decision. I think the destination he chose is good, as Dresden are a great club with a great stadium in the second division. They expect a lot from you there. It’s a good decision.”