Mainz 05 Coach Urs Fischer Defends Team After Defeat Against Dortmund

omidbasir- Mainz 05 head coach Urs Fischer reaffirmed his unwavering support for his team following the heavy 4-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund. He emphasized that this result does not signify a crisis, as it ended their three-match winning streak in the Bundesliga. Thanks to previous points accrued under his leadership, Mainz remains comfortably above the relegation zone.

The match statistics illustrate a misleading scoreline, with Mainz recording an xG of 1.51 compared to Dortmund’s 2.32. Fischer expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall performance, reiterating this sentiment during the post-match press conference. He acknowledged that they had prepared extensively for the match and believed that they could not have done much differently.

“I observed a solid first half from my team,” Fischer commented. “The first 45 minutes were evenly contested. However, we must improve our defensive capabilities during set-pieces. We need to utilize our physical presence more effectively and enhance our positioning. Although we thoroughly analyzed Dortmund’s set plays, they ultimately made the difference in the match. It’s crucial to defend better in those scenarios.”

Fischer also defended his choice of goalkeeper, who experienced a challenging match. The veteran custodian, Batz, inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net for the second goal and struggled against Dortmund’s third. Despite these errors, Fischer highlighted Batz’s commendable saves during a critical phase of the game between the 52nd and 57th minutes, where he denied attempts from Felix Nmecha, Maximilian Beier, and Julian Brandt.

“Certainly, the goalkeeper must be more effective in creating space for himself,” Fischer stated. “However, he also requires support from his teammates.”

Acknowledging the team’s need for recovery, Fischer confirmed they would still have a scheduled day off for carnival celebrations in the city next week. Unlike some coaches who may impose rigorous training sessions following poor performances, Fischer does not view the current situation as dire.

“There is life beyond football,” he remarked. “We will analyze this game objectively, just as we have done with previous matches. There are indeed aspects to address and improve upon. After the carnival festivities, our focus will shift to a challenging home match against Hamburger SV.”