Schmidt: “We’re stronger across the board”

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When Mainz are visited by VfL Wolfsburg this Saturday afternoon (15:30 CET), the Zerofivers’ sporting director Martin Schmidt will be watching a very familiar opponent – the side where the Swiss spent some months as head coach, continuing to maintain good contacts with the area. The game against the Wölfen will mark the beginning of the final Bundesliga week in 2022 for FSV, before a long winter break gets underway. Schmidt describes the break for the World Cup as an “exciting challenge,” one that will give many players plenty of time to relax – but on the flipside, also be an intensive time for the Mainz board, as they look to navigate the “longest transfer window of all time”.

Martin, after the 6-2 defeat to Bayern, you said it “will hurt for one or two days.” Do you get the sense that the team have worked past this defeat now?

Schmidt:  “Of course, these sorts of games can you leave you feeling down as you had imagined to have gone differently. The first recovery training session on Sunday was the first step in getting back to strength once more. After having Monday off, Tuesday’s session was once again unbelievably intense, and you could see the will to make amends once more. I can see that the Bayern game is now firmly in the past and that all focus is on Wolfsburg.

As someone in the club’s management, what did you take away from the game?

Schmidt: “Against Wolfsburg, we’ve got to have more aggressiveness on the pitch once more, something that lacked in Munich somewhat. We were too passive there and maybe had too much respect for the opponent. We did quite well going forward, and created some chances too. Defensively we’ve got to once more find what we’ve shown in previous games.”

Bo Svensson has been much more pleased with recent performances than the start of the season, apart from the Bayern game. What is the team doing better now than when the season got underway?

Schmidt: “The team is finer tuned now. The new players are integrated much better – it always takes  while for new arrivals to get used to the football that Bo wants them to play, a process that was only just getting underway when the season began, which is why we were perhaps a little shaky at times. Some of the players who didn’t get a full pre-season are now in shape, so we’re stronger across the board. The form charts shows every player is on the up. That’s why now we can change games from off the bench, chase a game or hold a lead.”

The upcoming winter break is set to be a busy time for Mainz sporting director Schmidt.

Did that first home win provide some more momentum?

Schmidt: “The win against Köln was definitely important for the team. Before that, playing at home seemed to be something of an Achilles’ heel, while we were looking great away. We’ve shaken that off now, so we’re really looking forward to our next home game. After the win against Köln, we absolutely want to do that again.”

The next home game will be against a team familiar to you, having coached at Wolfsburg for a few months between 2017 and 2018. To what extent are games against them special for you?

Schmidt: “What is special is that you keep a connection with the coaches, the management and the staff, which is something that has never gone away. Some of the players from my time at Wolfsburg are still there, so I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces once again on Saturday.”

Wolfsburg are in good form after a tough start to the season, having gone undefeated in their last six. What’s behind their current run?

Schmidt: “They are now showing the quality they’ve got and are therefore picking up some good points. The new coach is settled in and his system is beginning to fall into place. They are definitely on the up, they’re good in possession which is one of their strength. In terms of defending compactly, they’re actually a top five Bundesliga team in that metric. They’ve got a lot of strength up front, including Jonas Wind who is once again fit for Saturday. That’s why it’s definitely a game between two in-form sides on Saturday who are both really hungry to get the win.”

Schmidt and Christian Heidel, seen here during Mainz’s summer training camp, have worked together since December 2020.

Did that first home win provide some more momentum?

Schmidt: “The win against Köln was definitely important for the team. Before that, playing at home seemed to be something of an Achilles’ heel, while we were looking great away. We’ve shaken that off now, so we’re really looking forward to our next home game. After the win against Köln, we absolutely want to do that again.”

The next home game will be against a team familiar to you, having coached at Wolfsburg for a few months between 2017 and 2018. To what extent are games against them special for you?

Schmidt: “What is special is that you keep a connection with the coaches, the management and the staff, which is something that has never gone away. Some of the players from my time at Wolfsburg are still there, so I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces once again on Saturday.”

Wolfsburg are in good form after a tough start to the season, having gone undefeated in their last six. What’s behind their current run?

Schmidt: “They are now showing the quality they’ve got and are therefore picking up some good points. The new coach is settled in and his system is beginning to fall into place. They are definitely on the up, they’re good in possession which is one of their strength. In terms of defending compactly, they’re actually a top five Bundesliga team in that metric. They’ve got a lot of strength up front, including Jonas Wind who is once again fit for Saturday. That’s why it’s definitely a game between two in-form sides on Saturday who are both really hungry to get the win.”

When Mainz are visited by VfL Wolfsburg this Saturday afternoon (15:30 CET), the Zerofivers’ sporting director Martin Schmidt will be watching a very familiar opponent – the side where the Swiss spent some months as head coach, continuing to maintain good contacts with the area. The game against the Wölfen will mark the beginning of the final Bundesliga week in 2022 for FSV, before a long winter break gets underway. Schmidt describes the break for the World Cup as an “exciting challenge,” one that will give many players plenty of time to relax – but on the flipside, also be an intensive time for the Mainz board, as they look to navigate the “longest transfer window of all time”.

Martin, after the 6-2 defeat to Bayern, you said it “will hurt for one or two days.” Do you get the sense that the team have worked past this defeat now?

Schmidt:  “Of course, these sorts of games can you leave you feeling down as you had imagined to have gone differently. The first recovery training session on Sunday was the first step in getting back to strength once more. After having Monday off, Tuesday’s session was once again unbelievably intense, and you could see the will to make amends once more. I can see that the Bayern game is now firmly in the past and that all focus is on Wolfsburg.

As someone in the club’s management, what did you take away from the game?

Schmidt: “Against Wolfsburg, we’ve got to have more aggressiveness on the pitch once more, something that lacked in Munich somewhat. We were too passive there and maybe had too much respect for the opponent. We did quite well going forward, and created some chances too. Defensively we’ve got to once more find what we’ve shown in previous games.”

Bo Svensson has been much more pleased with recent performances than the start of the season, apart from the Bayern game. What is the team doing better now than when the season got underway?

Schmidt: “The team is finer tuned now. The new players are integrated much better – it always takes  while for new arrivals to get used to the football that Bo wants them to play, a process that was only just getting underway when the season began, which is why we were perhaps a little shaky at times. Some of the players who didn’t get a full pre-season are now in shape, so we’re stronger across the board. The form charts shows every player is on the up. That’s why now we can change games from off the bench, chase a game or hold a lead.”

Did that first home win provide some more momentum?

Schmidt: “The win against Köln was definitely important for the team. Before that, playing at home seemed to be something of an Achilles’ heel, while we were looking great away. We’ve shaken that off now, so we’re really looking forward to our next home game. After the win against Köln, we absolutely want to do that again.”

The next home game will be against a team familiar to you, having coached at Wolfsburg for a few months between 2017 and 2018. To what extent are games against them special for you?

Schmidt: “What is special is that you keep a connection with the coaches, the management and the staff, which is something that has never gone away. Some of the players from my time at Wolfsburg are still there, so I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces once again on Saturday.”

Wolfsburg are in good form after a tough start to the season, having gone undefeated in their last six. What’s behind their current run?

Schmidt: “They are now showing the quality they’ve got and are therefore picking up some good points. The new coach is settled in and his system is beginning to fall into place. They are definitely on the up, they’re good in possession which is one of their strength. In terms of defending compactly, they’re actually a top five Bundesliga team in that metric. They’ve got a lot of strength up front, including Jonas Wind who is once again fit for Saturday. That’s why it’s definitely a game between two in-form sides on Saturday who are both really hungry to get the win.”

Did that first home win provide some more momentum?

Schmidt: “The win against Köln was definitely important for the team. Before that, playing at home seemed to be something of an Achilles’ heel, while we were looking great away. We’ve shaken that off now, so we’re really looking forward to our next home game. After the win against Köln, we absolutely want to do that again.”

The next home game will be against a team familiar to you, having coached at Wolfsburg for a few months between 2017 and 2018. To what extent are games against them special for you?

Schmidt: “What is special is that you keep a connection with the coaches, the management and the staff, which is something that has never gone away. Some of the players from my time at Wolfsburg are still there, so I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces once again on Saturday.”

Wolfsburg are in good form after a tough start to the season, having gone undefeated in their last six. What’s behind their current run?

Schmidt: “They are now showing the quality they’ve got and are therefore picking up some good points. The new coach is settled in and his system is beginning to fall into place. They are definitely on the up, they’re good in possession which is one of their strength. In terms of defending compactly, they’re actually a top five Bundesliga team in that metric. They’ve got a lot of strength up front, including Jonas Wind who is once again fit for Saturday. That’s why it’s definitely a game between two in-form sides on Saturday who are both really hungry to get the win.”

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Schmidt: “We’re stronger across the board”

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