Widmer: “That fills us with confidence”

Silvan Widmer had to wait almost two years for a goal in the colours of Mainz 05 before the club captain found the net this past weekend, putting his side ahead at home to Werder Bremen. Widmer's frustration regarding Bremen’s late equaliser has long since given way to the excitement ahead of the next European night under the floodlights. We spoke to him about the positives he is taking from the Werder game, his role as captain in the current run of form, and Thursday’s match against AC Fiorentina, as well as Italian football.

"that fills us with confidence for our upcoming challenges"

Hi Silvan, how did it feel to score your first goal for Mainz 05 after almost two years?

“It was a great feeling, scoring an important goal in front of our fans at the MEWA ARENA. It would have been even nicer should we have taken all three points against Bremen.”

You have received increased playing time in recent weeks, albeit on the left flank. How are you finding this position change?

“My left foot has always served me fairly well, so I have not found the switch too tricky. The opposite is quite true, that I am having fun playing there, since it is a bit different, especially when going forward. There, I have the chance more often to cut inside and cross or shoot with my right.”

How did you manage to turn the mood back into a positive one after the frustration of the Bremen game?

“If you analyse the game objectively, you can see that we did a lot of things well and were able to implement many of the things we had planned beforehand. That fills us with confidence for our upcoming challenges.”

"we have all sensed that this is the right way to move forward"

How do you perceive the team in the current run of form?

“We are sticking together and want to return the club to better days once more. We possess the desire to give it our everything in each game and want to get off the foot of the Bundesliga table as swiftly as possible.”

What is your role in that as club captain?

“The situation does not require me to deliver any great rousing speeches, but I try to go about things in training and in matches with positive body language and mindset. Obviously, if one or two of the lads need to hear a few kind words, then I will assume that responsibility.”

The head coach has often spoken about mental strength being decisive in periods like this one. What experienve have you felt of that out on the pitch and in the locker room?

“Your head decides which direction to take, and my job as captain is to lead the way mentally as well and to always stay positive, even when things get tough. We’ve invested a lot in recent weeks without much to show for it. However, we have all sense that this is the right way to move forward and that we perhaps need to play a simpler style of football again. That was clear to see that against Bremen. We gave it a lot out on the pitch that has earned us many points in recent months and years. Now it’s a matter of sticking to that, believing in our methods, and staying positive. If we do that, then we will win games once more.”

"i think it will be a level affair"

Hopefully, a win will be secured in the next fixture. What needs to be done better against Fiorentina?

“We are in a very good position in the Conference League with six points to our name after two games. It is important that we show heart out on that pitch. If we do that, we are very difficult to play against and we will have a good chance of picking up more points.”

We take on a team that is not exactly enjoying its most fruitful period. Fiorentina are bottom of Serie A and have just let both their manager and sporting director go. To what extent could that pose an advantage for us?

“A different coach can also make a difference. We’ve seen that in the past. It makes it more difficult for us to prepare for the game because we don’t know exactly how the team will operate tactically and whether they will make changes or not. I’m really looking forward to playing against a major Italian team with some great players in their ranks. I think it will be a level affair between two teams struggling somewhat domestically but each with maximum points in the Conference League so far. It should make for an exciting challenge.”

Another game under the floodlights awaits. What do these European nights stir up in you?

“I personally find matches under floodlights the best. Competing in a European fixture in front of our fans at our own stadium in the evening is very cool. We will be going at it full throttle out there on the pitch from the very first second. I hope that will also be the case in the stands.”

You played for Udinese in Italy from 2013 to 2018. Serie A has always had a reputation for encapsulating a different kind of football. Would you say it has become more similar to German football since then?

“Italian football has taken significant steps forward over the last few years. Tactics are not quite so characteristic and there is a more open style of play present.”

Can you remember past clashes with Fiorentina?

“We faced Fiorentina in the cup semi-final in my first season. We won the first leg but unfortunately lost the second and were knocked out. However, they were always very tight contests.”