An ambivalent look over his shoulder

Edimilson a perfect example

In Svensson’s eyes, personal responsibility and intrinsic motivation are key parts of personal development and the team’s sporting success. “We can’t just build in four free days during this period of the season.” The completion of individual exercises was checked, but the exercise demonstrates how every player has to invest in themselves to be a part of Svensson’s team. “Essentially, we always give the players guidelines, but we also make clear to them that they are responsible for their own careers.  When we open a door for them, they have to go through it. I think someone is more motivated when they are part of the process and don’t just get given everything by us,” expanded the former Mainz player and held up Edimilson Fernandes as an example of this. Svensson suggested that the Switzerland player had talent when he arrived, but “for a long time didn’t understand what he had to do to utilise this. He had to uncover this for himself. We gave him a lot of time and this year was his last chance,” said Svensson. “Edi is a good example that it is never too late to work on yourself. We have clearly laid-out demands to be carried out – these prerequisites then always come down to the player’s initiative and convictions. He has all the qualities that he needs – now he is also calling on them and has deservedly been in the team.”

When we open a door for them, they have to go through it

Alongside furthering individual development, the bigger picture, including togetherness on and off the pitch and squad harmony on a day-to-day basis, are also crucial to Svensson’s work. He suggested it is here that you can, and should, improve the probability that the little things decisive to winning games go your way

Increase chances of success

“For us, it is about a certain culture and the same understanding of togetherness. When that works it improves the probability of turning games around or being able to make a late comeback. At least I believe that. When you like being together, then you enjoy fighting together more. If you sit at the table together at lunch, then maybe you iron a few errors out in the game. I’m sure that one and one can sometimes equal three. Because of that, we invest so much here because we are convinced that we can gain an advantage through this.”

It is a formula that has worked brilliantly in the last few weeks, also due to further reasons that Svensson outlined. He stated that it is no coincidence that the team has picked up 17 points from eight games in the second half of the season (at the same point in the first half of the season they had eleven). “The question is always: Were our values and principles recognisable on the pitch? Since the winter break, we have been playing more consistently and solidly overall. In the first half of the season, we had good phases but we couldn’t be relied upon as much,” said Svensson. This following of principles has been a key reason in performances being mirrored by results, according to Svensson. He added that having a consistent backline, which since the Zerofivers’ last defeat to Union Berlin has consisted of Stefan Bell, Edimilson Fernandes, Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Anthony Caci and Danny da Costa has also been an important factor. “That is very important to the way that we are able to play in and out of possession. If your process doesn’t work here then it can become very inconsistent. If we are consistent here then we are more brave overall, and stay active. This has a big impact on our game both in terms of how we play and our mindset.”

In the first half of the season, we had good phases but we couldn’t be relied upon as much

This trust in the back-five has also led to difficult decisions, with captain Silvan Widmer himself only playing a role from the bench recently, while other key players from the past months like Dominik Kohr, Alexander Hack or Aarón Martin are having to be patient waiting for their next starts. It is a luxury that even Svensson himself can’t believe at times: “Sometimes it is an ambivalent feeling to look over my left shoulder and to see who’s sitting there. On the other hand, it was a decisive factor in our recruitment in that we wanted to increase competition for places. We play performance-based football but we will not get through the rest of the season with those boys on the bench also playing an important role again. It is a challenge for all of us to keep pushing each other to stay successful together.” The squad situation is progress from last season, when Svensson felt that the difference in quality between the 14th and 20th man in the squad was often too much.

Successful winter transfer market

Both in the summer and in the winter the Zerofivers’ approach was shaped not least by two notable absences, as confirmed by Svensson: “If someone had said to me before the season that Jonny and Karim were missing I would’ve said that Marcus Ingvartsen will have to have an unbelievably good season, which was a key factor for us in terms of the winter transfers. Ludovic Ajorque and Andreas Hanche-Olsen have helped us immensely and fit the group not only on the pitch but also as people. You can’t forget that we have also been missing Marlon Mustapha, who started the season well and is now coming back to where we would like to see him, for a long time. Marcus, Ludo and Nelly Weiper, when he came in, have done well but that obviously doesn’t mean that Jonny and Karim aren’t unbelievably important players for us anymore.”