Svensson: “We need to deliver a higher level of performance”

Mainz are set to welcome Borussia Dortmund to the MEWA ARENA on Wednesday evening for their first home game of 2023 (18:30 CET). Over 30,000 tickets have been sold for the match against “one of the top three teams in Germany.” Although Borussia Dortmund are sat in sixth spot on 28 points, Bo Svensson is fully aware of how strong BVB can be on their day: “It is Borussia Dortmund. They are a great side, even if they would have liked a few more points,” warned the Dane in Tuesday’s presser.

Proven quality against top teams

Although Svensson is expecting to come up against a strong Dortmund side on Wednesday, the boss pointed out that his side have already “posed a threat to several strong teams” at home this season, including Leipzig and Frankfurt. The 43-year-old has called upon his players to do the same against BVB.

It Is Borussia Dortmund. Of course they are a great side.

Svensson wants his side to “defend well and make it tight” against Dortmund on matchday 17. The Dane believes his players need to bring a level of intensity and make sure that they take their chances when they come. He has also challenged his players to improve on the performance they showed against Stuttgart at the weekend. “If you leave too much space against Dortmund, don’t clear balls properly or don’t do the right things in the duels, then you will encounter problems,” said Svensson, referencing the goal FSV conceded against VfB on Saturday. “There were four or five errors in the 30 seconds leading up to the goal,” he explained.

Learning from mistakes quickly

The gaffer wants his players to learn from these mistakes as quickly as possible as Dortmund are equipped with “quality, pace and individual class at the top of the pitch.” He once again reiterated that his side need to “deliver a higher level of performance” against a BVB side that is “strong across the board.”

We will find other solutions

Svensson warned that although Jude Bellingham’s absence is a “big loss” for Borussia, he will be replaced by another player of international calibre and Mainz’s task won’t be made any easier on Wednesday. The Dane will also have to do without the suspended Dominik Kohr, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Stuttgart on Saturday: “He plays in the middle, directly in front of the defence and he is very important for us. It’s a real loss when he isn’t there.” The head coach, however, emphasised that he will “find other solutions.”

Well equipped in midfield and in defence

It is still unclear as to whether Anton Stach will be the aforementioned solution. Although the midfielder is available, he won’t be able to play for the full 90 minutes and it is still being decided as to whether he could start the game or come on off the bench. “He is definitely an alternative and both are possible,” explained Svensson.

Defender Stefan Bell, who picked up an injury during the winter break and was suspended against Stuttgart, is getting closer to match fitness: “After his injury during the break he is becoming more of an option with each day in training,” said Svensson, referencing the torn muscle fibre that Bell suffered back in December. Maxim Leitsch and Andreas Hanche-Olsen are also knocking on the door: “All three are in training and are a little bit behind because of their time away. But we know that sooner or later we will have more options in central defence.”

Zentner or Dahmen? And Three absences at the top of the pitch

There are still questions marks surrounding Robin Zentner, who missed the game against Stuttgart with a back injury. The head coach, however, isn’t worried if Dahmen needs to fill in once again: “If Robin can’t train today then Finn will play in goal tomorrow. We have no cause for concern on that front. We saw what Finn can do in Stuttgart on Saturday.”

If Robin can’t train today then Finn will play in goal tomorrow

Meanwhile, the forward trio of Delano Burgzorg, Marlon Mustapha and Jonathan Burkardt, who are all still absent from team training, will definitely be unavailable against Dortmund.