Svensson: “We need to also make use of the final week”

On Saturday afternoon, Mainz took on TSG Hoffenheim for their final friendly before the Bundesliga returns next weekend. The match, which consisted of 2 x 75 minute halves, ended in a 2-2 draw and was a useful test for both sides as matchday 16 approaches. Although the fans had to endure some cold weather at the Bruchwegstadion, the mood was good overall after the solid performance. The four goals and abundance of other chances made for entertaining viewing and the head coach was satisfied after the final whistle. “Of course it was a very long day. We won’t experience that too often,” explained Bo Svensson.

Svensson also explained the reasoning behind the 150-minute match after the game: “The winter break was strange, we only played two friendlies and now we are facing two very busy weeks. We know that we need more than eleven players to get through them, so we wanted to give more players more playing time. It is good physically and for our rhythm,” said the Dane. A number of youth team players got the chance to play in the second half against Hoffenheim, as did newcomer Andreas Hanche-Olsen, who only signed from KAA Gent on Friday morning. The gaffer, however, is aware of the fact that it is too early to judge the Norwegian’s performance: “He played okay. He only arrived on Friday and had to play an eleven vs. eleven straight away. That isn’t easy to do and he also hasn’t trained with the team for very long. It was important for him to be on the pitch and to work with the team.”

Making good progress

Svensson also believes that his side need to extract everything they can out of the final week before the Stuttgart game: “We chose to meet on 2nd January and we chose to get ready with two friendlies, so we can’t say our preparations are over on 14th January. We need to make use of the final seven days because we can’t train too much after that due to the tight schedule. We’re not fully where we want to be but we’ve made good progress and hopefully we’ll have taken the next steps by the Stuttgart game.”

In any case, the 150 minutes against Hoffenheim were certainly a good building block for the Zerofivers. “It is good that we played against a strong Bundesliga side. We did some things well but we also have things we need to improve on. We have good pictures that we can work with. We were better out of possession than we were against Luzern and we did well throughout the game. We also created some good chances on the counter in the first half,” explained the gaffer. The 43-year-old, however, also pointed out that his side were a bit careless at times. “We were okay with the ball but were sometimes far too sloppy.”

Andreas Hanche-Olsen made his Mainz debut on Saturday.

A more balanced first half

Svensson mentioned that his side performed better in the first half against TSG: “We had good moments when we were able to create overloads in midfield but we gave the ball away too carelessly. Especially in the second half we weren’t able to play our way out as well. The first half was more balanced overall.”

Moreover, the boss was quick to point out his dissatisfaction with the two goals that were conceded: “If you look at the first goal, we were actually on the mark tactically but we didn’t tackle with enough conviction to win the ball back. In my opinion we are bit too nice in the duels. It comes down to having the right amount toughness in all areas. We could have won the ball back on the half way line and countered,” said Svensson, who also believes the second goal could have been prevented: “This is something we have spoken about before. A long ball into our half which our opponents won and got into a dangerous area out wide. The cross then came in and we were too passive. That is the sort of goal that we shouldn’t concede. That was a problem against Luzern. The balls over the top didn’t cause us too many problems today, other than the one that led to the goal.”

Zentner to return to training on Tuesday

Stefan Bell was unavailable on Saturday. The centre-back had to sit out due to illness. Anton Stach, Jonathan Burkardt, Delano Burgzorg, who sprained his right ankle during the friendly against FC Luzern, and Robin Zentner were also missing. The muscles in the shot-stopper’s back had become tight on Friday, according to Svensson. “We didn’t want to take any risks. I think he will be able to train again on Tuesday.”

Finn Dahmen and Lasse Rieß shared duties between the posts. Both made a strong impression, with Dahmen being tested more in the first half and making several brilliant saves. Rieß made a low stop in a one-on-one scenario with Munas Dabbur and was on the field for the most bizarre scene of the game: Dabbur’s header deflected off the back post and landed directly into his arms.

Familiar trick with Fulgini

The line-up for the Zerofivers in the middle of the park was interesting across both periods of play. Dominik Kohr and Angelo Fulgini started the first half and Leandro Barreiro and Aymen Bakok came on in the second. Svensson wanted a mixture: one more defensive player with the other slightly more creative and ball-playing. When it came to the variant with Fulgini, who traditionally sits deeper, the head coach remembered an old trick. “We used to do the same with Jean-Paul Boëtius to get him more involved in the game. Angelo is definitely an option in that role,” he explained.

Mainz’s attack had enough chances to score more than two goals, but they weren’t efficient in front of goal. To go 1-0 up, Aarón won possession on the halfway line and the loose ball felt to Kohr, who sent Ben Bobzien down the wing. Bobzien crossed to Fulgini, who took a touch and smashed it past the keeper. Mainz’s second goal started with Brajan Gruda’s free kick, which Marcus Ingvartsen flicked on towards goal, before Leandro Barreiro nodded it home.

We’re all looking forward to some Bundesliga action again after an eleven-week break and competing with the best.

The head coach did not want to answer whether there were still question marks around his starting line-up for the game against Stuttgart next Saturday. “If I’m being totally honest, I haven’t thought about that at all yet. We’re all looking forward to some Bundesliga action again after an eleven-week break and competing with the best.”

On Saturday afternoon, Mainz took on TSG Hoffenheim for their final friendly before the Bundesliga returns next weekend. The match, which consisted of 2 x 75 minute halves, ended in a 2-2 draw and was a useful test for both sides as matchday 16 approaches. Although the fans had to endure some cold weather at the Bruchwegstadion, the mood was good overall after the solid performance. The four goals and abundance of other chances made for entertaining viewing and the head coach was satisfied after the final whistle. “Of course it was a very long day. We won’t experience that too often,” explained Bo Svensson.

Svensson also explained the reasoning behind the 150-minute match after the game: “The winter break was strange, we only played two friendlies and now we are facing two very busy weeks. We know that we need more than eleven players to get through them, so we wanted to give more players more playing time. It is good physically and for our rhythm,” said the Dane. A number of youth team players got the chance to play in the second half against Hoffenheim, as did newcomer Andreas Hanche-Olsen, who only signed from KAA Gent on Friday morning. The gaffer, however, is aware of the fact that it is too early to judge the Norwegian’s performance: “He played okay. He only arrived on Friday and had to play an eleven vs. eleven straight away. That isn’t easy to do and he also hasn’t trained with the team for very long. It was important for him to be on the pitch and to work with the team.”

Making good progress

Svensson also believes that his side need to extract everything they can out of the final week before the Stuttgart game: “We chose to meet on 2nd January and we chose to get ready with two friendlies, so we can’t say our preparations are over on 14th January. We need to make use of the final seven days because we can’t train too much after that due to the tight schedule. We’re not fully where we want to be but we’ve made good progress and hopefully we’ll have taken the next steps by the Stuttgart game.”

In any case, the 150 minutes against Hoffenheim were certainly a good building block for the Zerofivers. “It is good that we played against a strong Bundesliga side. We did some things well but we also have things we need to improve on. We have good pictures that we can work with. We were better out of possession than we were against Luzern and we did well throughout the game. We also created some good chances on the counter in the first half,” explained the gaffer. The 43-year-old, however, also pointed out that his side were a bit careless at times. “We were okay with the ball but were sometimes far too sloppy.”

A more balanced first half

Svensson mentioned that his side performed better in the first half against TSG: “We had good moments when we were able to create overloads in midfield but we gave the ball away too carelessly. Especially in the second half we weren’t able to play our way out as well. The first half was more balanced overall.”

Moreover, the boss was quick to point out his dissatisfaction with the two goals that were conceded: “If you look at the first goal, we were actually on the mark tactically but we didn’t tackle with enough conviction to win the ball back. In my opinion we are bit too nice in the duels. It comes down to having the right amount toughness in all areas. We could have won the ball back on the half way line and countered,” said Svensson, who also believes the second goal could have been prevented: “This is something we have spoken about before. A long ball into our half which our opponents won and got into a dangerous area out wide. The cross then came in and we were too passive. That is the sort of goal that we shouldn’t concede. That was a problem against Luzern. The balls over the top didn’t cause us too many problems today, other than the one that led to the goal.”

Zentner to return to training on Tuesday

Stefan Bell was unavailable on Saturday. The centre-back had to sit out due to illness. Anton Stach, Jonathan Burkardt, Delano Burgzorg, who sprained his right ankle during the friendly against FC Luzern, and Robin Zentner were also missing. The muscles in the shot-stopper’s back had become tight on Friday, according to Svensson. “We didn’t want to take any risks. I think he will be able to train again on Tuesday.”

Finn Dahmen and Lasse Rieß shared duties between the posts. Both made a strong impression, with Dahmen being tested more in the first half and making several brilliant saves. Rieß made a low stop in a one-on-one scenario with Munas Dabbur and was on the field for the most bizarre scene of the game: Dabbur’s header deflected off the back post and landed directly into his arms.

Familiar trick with Fulgini

The line-up for the Zerofivers in the middle of the park was interesting across both periods of play. Dominik Kohr and Angelo Fulgini started the first half and Leandro Barreiro and Aymen Bakok came on in the second. Svensson wanted a mixture: one more defensive player with the other slightly more creative and ball-playing. When it came to the variant with Fulgini, who traditionally sits deeper, the head coach remembered an old trick. “We used to do the same with Jean-Paul Boëtius to get him more involved in the game. Angelo is definitely an option in that role,” he explained.

Mainz’s attack had enough chances to score more than two goals, but they weren’t efficient in front of goal. To go 1-0 up, Aarón won possession on the halfway line and the loose ball felt to Kohr, who sent Ben Bobzien down the wing. Bobzien crossed to Fulgini, who took a touch and smashed it past the keeper. Mainz’s second goal started with Brajan Gruda’s free kick, which Marcus Ingvartsen flicked on towards goal, before Leandro Barreiro nodded it home.

We’re all looking forward to some Bundesliga action again after an eleven-week break and competing with the best.

The head coach did not want to answer whether there were still question marks around his starting line-up for the game against Stuttgart next Saturday. “If I’m being totally honest, I haven’t thought about that at all yet. We’re all looking forward to some Bundesliga action again after an eleven-week break and competing with the best.”