First team 27.08.2026 - 20:48 Uhr
Tietz: “We want to make our home ground a fortress”
The 29-year-old discusses the charm of the first round of the cup, his former club and why he is especially looking forward to walking out this time
His daughter as a lucky charm
Now Bundesliga routine returns, and the “tight-knit group” head into the first home game of the new season in good shape. “We know each other well, know each other’s strengths and try to put that into practice on the pitch,” said Tietz of the team’s current state. Nevertheless, the Mainz 05 striker warns against overconfidence, because a good pre-season means nothing once league action begins. “What matters now is confirming that mentality and focus in the Bundesliga as well.” Personally, his goal remains modest: to stay injury-free, as he had already said during the fan talk. And as a team? For now, the focus is on staying up. “After last season, especially after the first half of the campaign, we want to get as far away from the relegation places as possible.”
The striker is visibly looking forward to the first home appearance. The home sections of the arena are sold out, and the team want to crown that anticipation with a win. “We want to become a force at home and definitely win the game. I can hardly wait for the referee to blow the whistle.” The afternoon will be especially personal because of family matchday: together with his daughter, “Tietzer” will walk out onto the pitch at the MEWA ARENA on Saturday. “That is something I have planned, and it will be a special moment.”
“For 90 minutes, we are opponents”
For all the positive anticipation, the opposition must not be underestimated: SC Paderborn 07 secured promotion through the play-off against VfL Wolfsburg and also made a successful start to the new season in the DFB-Pokal. “Paderborn are a strong footballing side, difficult to play against and have some really good individual players,” Tietz said. “We definitely must not underestimate them. We have to be focused from the start, accept the challenges and do our jobs.”
The striker’s connection to the opposition goes beyond the analysis before kick-off. Before his spells in Wiesbaden, Darmstadt and Augsburg, the 29-year-old also had a brief spell with the East Westphalian club. “A club with a very family-like environment,” Tietz recalls, and he is even looking forward to seeing one or two familiar faces again, “maybe not players, but certainly one or two people from the physio or kit team.” Before kick-off, however, only one thing matters to him: “For 90 minutes, we are opponents. After that, maybe we can have a relaxed chat.”
On the pitch, Mainz 05 can expect a physically demanding contest in terms of running. Work rate is deeply rooted in SCP’s DNA, and there is also added danger from set pieces. “We will try to allow as few set pieces as possible, avoid unnecessary fouls and pull out of dangerous situations in good time,” Tietz explained of Mainz’s defensive plan. “Ideally, if we do draw fouls, we do so high up the pitch. Then we can control the game with our own style of play.” From his point of view, one thing will be decisive above all: being fully alert from the first minute, and not only after ten or fifteen minutes.
