Batz: “It’s like a ketchup bottle”

Everyone has setbacks, both in life and in sport, and Daniel Batz is no stranger to such setbacks. Mainz 05’s 32-year-old goalkeeper has already experienced a lot and has found a way to deal with these challenge s. “With every setback, you grow stronger as an individual and you can never give up,” he emphasised. This positive approach has paid off for Batz, who started a new chapter with Mainz last summer, after a long, successful period with 1. FC Saarbrücken. His dream to play between the sticks in the Bundesliga again came true after 11 years. With all his experience, he wants to make sure that the 05ers avoid relegation – whether that’s with wise words in the changing rooms, or, when he’s needed, on the pitch. 

Batz started for the 05ers against his former club, SC Freiburg, who he was in goal for some 11 years ago on 5th May 2012. When he ran out for the first time for FSV against SCF, 4229 days had passed since his Bundesliga debut. It was an emotional day: “It was always my dream to play in the Bundesliga again and that’s why I made the move to Mainz.” He was more nervous than he thought that he would be after finding out that he would be replacing the injured Robin Zentner in goal for Mainz. “I was much more nervous before the game than I normally am, but as soon as the first whistle was blown I was totally focused on the game.” 

“We want to get the win in front of our home crowd.”

However, Batz could not prevent Mainz from an unfortunate 1-0 loss against Freiburg. He was the man between the posts again for the 05ers in Cologne last weekend and there he managed to keep his first top-flight clean sheet. Even though he didn’t concede and took a point back to Mainz, the 32-year-old had mixed feelings after the match. “On the one hand, it’s disappointing that we weren’t able to pick up all three points despite playing really well, especially in the first half. On the other hand, it was important that we didn’t lose. We’ve got no time to complain; we’ve got to carry on working hard. You don’t have the time to grumble in football because everything moves so quickly; now we’ve got to focus on the next test against relegation rivals Heidenheim (Saturday, 15:30 CET). We really want to get the win in front of our home crowd.” 

“Once the goals start coming, then we might get a bit of momentum.”

Batz draws his optimism from the performances and the energy shown in the past few matches, which haven’t ended in victory for Mainz, apart from the first win of the term against Leipzig. “It’s like a ketchup bottle: once the goals start coming, then we might get a bit of momentum and carry on scoring. We’re open to each other's criticism, stand together and are aware of the situation that we're in. But we aren’t shying away from the challenge; we want to carry out our plan and we’re doing everything to do just that. We’ll get our reward if we keep giving our all and hopefully we’ll get the win against Heidenheim.” 

Batz could be in goal again on the weekend. “Personally, I’d love to contribute to a Mainz victory on the pitch this year. We’ll see what happens after that. But, of course, I wish Robin a speedy recovery.” Batz feels that the atmosphere within the team is very positive and described goalkeeping coach Stephan Kuhnert as “a unique and a great guy”. There’s a real mix of personalities amongst the goalkeeping team. Kuhni is doing a great job. Training is fun and hard, but no ticky, no washy,” he said laughing. 

Staying on the right track

Batz wanted to “get out of his comfort zone” in summer after a long spell in Saarbrücken. He wanted to be challenged again in Mainz, to learn something and to have the chance to potentially play in the Bundesliga again. “From my point of view, everything’s gone well so far.” Until then, however, Batz had to deal with a lot of adversity. “I didn’t play in the years after I left Freiburg and had to move 
 from the Bundesliga to the 3.Liga.” Things didn’t exactly go to plan at Chemnitzer FC, either. In the space of six months, Batz once again ended up in the Regionalliga, initially in Elversberg before moving to Saarbrücken. “I had to fight to play at all.” Batz and FCS fell at the final hurdle on three straight occasions, as they lost in the promotion play-off three years in a row. They also narrowly 
 missed out on reaching the final of the DFB-Pokal. “You eventually get your reward if you’re persistent,” said the 32-year-old on the lessons he’d learned during this time.

Batz’s personal story and the values he’s gained as a result of it may as well be FSV’s for the season so far. The goalkeeper also tries to get the message across in the dressing room “that there are always going to be positive things that you can latch onto.” You’ve got to stay positive, work hard to improve, do analysis and put 100% effort in to achieve success. The goal is clear: celebrate staying up at the end of the season. “You’ve got to stay on the right track and show persistence when it matters.” Batz knows that all too well from experience.