You do not have to know details from Bo Henriksen’s personnel planning to know that FSV Mainz’s offensive 05 will appear in an unfamiliar constellation on Saturday afternoon against RB Leipzig (3:30 p.m. in the FAZ-Liveticker to the Bundesliga and at DAZN). Only Nelson Weiper in the top is considered to be set, and a lot still seems open to the half positions behind it. One thing is certain: Paul Nebel is missing again, Benedict Hollerbach continues to laborate his muscle injury from the Cologne game at the start of the season, and Jae-Sung Lee also muscularly released from the international trip with South Korea.
This could immediately give William Bøving that committed to the transfer period on the last day of the transfer period. “He is a running monster,” says the trainer about his Danish compatriot, who has worked for Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga in the past three years and scored 14 goals in 78 missions. Bøving is fast, can cover many meters, and with high intensity. “And our DNA are running meters,” emphasizes Henriksen. Bøving fits the plan.
But, the coach relativized, and there were other ways to fill the vacant positions. Armindo Sieb is just as possible as Ben Bobzien, and Arnaud Nordin had surprisingly played in the foreground in the youngest 1-1 in Wolfsburg. The Frenchman, who had come from Montpellier in January and had not revealed in the second half of the season, what sense the 05s had seen in his obligation, not only convinced with his football skills in dribbling and one-on-one situations-but also with his running data.
It is not easy for new players to play in the team, says Henriksen. “Our style is that everyone works hard” – and there would first have to get used to this from other clubs. This adaptation has now succeeded. Last season, the running data of the foreign attacker had moved consistently in the red area, all parameters were green in Wolfsburg. “We want to see that. Arnaud has developed from a moderate runner to a running machine, he is a fantastic footballer anyway. I am very happy that his work has paid off and I am excited to see where it will go.”
The Dane was also happy in front of the TV last Sunday. When Nadiem Amiri gave the German national team 2-1 in the lead against Northern Ireland, he cheered so loudly that his son, who was already in bed, had inquired: “Why do you scream?” That Amiri ran directly to the sideline after his first international goal to cheer the event with Paul Nebel, “was an outstanding scene, I had goose bumps”.
Robin Zentner’s commitment questionable
Amiri had decided to move something in the event of a substitution – and impressively implemented this project. “If Nadiem is 100 percent fit and has this mental power, it is not only good for us, but for all of Germany,” enthuses Henriks. “I hope he will take it to the pitch on Saturday.” That would increase the likelihood of the first victory in this Bundesliga season after the 0: 1 against the Cologne and the draw in Wolfsburg.
On the other hand, Robin Zentner’s commitment is on the brink. The goalkeeper suffered from back problems during the week, an assignment against RB Leipzig requires that he does the (non -public) final training session, said Henriksen, but was quite relaxed. “We also have a very good second goalkeeper. Lasse Rieß is ready if Robin doesn’t play.”
