“We want to put forward a high quality performance!”

As a rule, games against former employers are something special for all those involved, especially if it is for the first time. Sandro Schwarz is no exception here. Hertha’s head coach, who has been in charge of the club since the summer, will meet 1. FSV Mainz 05 for the first time as Hertha head coach this Friday evening (16.09.22, 20:30 CEST). Mainz is not only a club he played for, but also where, from 2013 to 2019, the 43-year-old worked his way up from the U19 team, to the second team, before managing the first team side. “I have a lot to thank the club for; it was a very intense time – both as a player and as a coach,” the coach makes no secret of his relationship to the Zerofivers. As well as the head coach, both Jean-Paul Boëtius and Suat Serdar come up against their former sides. Despite these many connections, the Blue-Whites are not going to Mainz just to catch up with old friends. “Mainz compete hard and are a very physical side – it shows that they are a very good Bundesliga side and are difficult to work out how to play against. It will be a very interesting game,” emphasised Fredi Bobic. herthabsc.com has summarised the key points. Schwarz and Bobic spoke about…

… Schwarz’s return to his former club:

Sandro Schwarz: As with everything in life you never know how it will be the first time (laughs). It is obviously a special game. I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces again. It was a very formative time in terms of my experiences– as a player getting promoted to the Bundesliga. I learnt up close from some great coaching personalities in Wolfgang Frank, Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. I have taken the way in which they worked with me. Nevertheless, the anticipation is also there with Hertha BSC to show what we can do on the pitch this Friday.

… our opponents:

Sandro Schwarz: Mainz 05 are a very settled and active football team, who play forward very quickly – especially off second balls. That will be an important area on Friday evening. The club has a lot of continuity, especially in Bo Svensson’s work. I have a lot to thank the club for; it was a very intense time – both as a player and as a coach. But now it is about being here [at Hertha] with all my body and soul. I already feel this way; I feel the togetherness of the Hertha family. I look forward to the club playing against a very well managed team. We want to put forward a high quality performance!

Fredi Bobic: There are always periods of success at FSV Mainz 05 when they have continuity in the role of head coach. They also have always had difficult periods at times when this or that coach has been changed. Mainz have also always understood that it is about finding the right coach again and building from the team outwards. That is a strength and gives them continuity. You need that in order to successfully make the most out of your resources. The way Mainz play football is unpleasant to play against, and comes with their name on it. The players compete hard and are a very physical side – it shows that they are a very good Bundesliga side and are difficult to work out how to play against. It will be a very interesting game,”

… the deciding factors for the game:

Sandro Schwarz: The performance against Leverkusen was very energetic and intense, which we will take with us. On Friday, it will be very important to run a lot, because Mainz play the ball quickly in behind, but we also want to break forward as quickly as possible. We need to do the basics well and with a high intensity. We have to improve our precision in the final third in order to create more dangerous chances to score.

… Jean-Paul Boëtius:

Fredi Bobic: Jean-Paul Boëtius is a player that I have always liked when we have met each other. It was really interesting to be able to bring him here. He is getting better and better week after week. It doesn’t matter if he plays from the start or comes off the bench, he always adds energy to our game. Djanga brings structure with him and is strong on the ball, which is exactly the kind of player we wanted to have.

… the current situation:

Fredi Bobic: I would like to have more points, which is the crucial thing. The boys have to put the ball in the back of the net, not onto an opposition hand, because we can’t rely on anything being given. We would have deserved a couple more points, so I will be happy for the players and the coaching team when the performance is rewarded. The first half of the season is shorter and the results give the boys self-confidence and then we can take this flow with us, but for this we also need a little bit of luck.