Burkardt: "It will be a big moment for me"

After coming back a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Mainz 05’s home-grown talent Jonny Burkardt became one of the 05ers’ key men in the second half of last season. Burkardt netted eight goals and cemented his position as a nailed-on starter once again, as Mainz secured their survival in dramatic fashion on matchday 34. The 24-year-old is fighting fit and raring to go ahead of the new season. Burkardt can hardly wait for FSV’s first competitive fixture - an encounter with SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Friday (18:00 CEST) - not least because he’s expecting the travelling supporters to get behind the 05ers.

After six weeks of intense preparations, the 05ers’ patience is running out – they want to get started. Head coach Bo Henriksen emphasised that it was about time that the games started to mean something again following last weekend’s friendly against Montpellier. Even the Dane is “as keen as can be” according to Burkardt, “Mostly because we haven’t had a competitive match in so long.” The fact that the game will take place on the other side of the Rhine, effectively making it a local derby, is obviously another reason for the 05ers to be excited. Mainz’s number 29 has been thinking about the reception that awaits FSV’s players when they run out onto the pitch at the Brita-Arena on Friday. “I want us to arrive at the stadium and immediately feel as if we’re about to play a home game,” he said, referring to the 3,500 Mainz fans that will cheer their side on in the 15,000-capacity stadium. “It’s a small ground and it goes without saying that our supporters will be able to play a big role. Their support will be an advantage and give us an extra boost.” 

FSV are the clear favourites against the third-division side, but Wiesbaden have an advantage of their own, namely that they have already played two competitive matches this season, picking up four points from two 3. Liga matches. This changes nothing for Mainz, however, who are set on reaching the next round of the competition. “We had a good pre-season. We’re fired up and we’ll be ready,” stated Burkardt assuredly.

Aiming to take on more responsibility

It’s almost a foregone conclusion that the striker, who only made his debut in the 2018/19 season, will lead Mainz out onto the field as captain on Friday, given that Silvan Widmer has been struggling with illness and is not expected to be fit for the clash in Wiesbaden. M05’s new vice-captain expressed his pride at stepping into this role when asked about it. “Obviously, I hope that Silvan is back fit again soon. If I lead the side out in a competitive match as captain for the first time, it’ll be a big moment for me. Wearing the captain’s armband for the club that I’ve been at for a long time is very, very special.” Another reward for the striker’s hard work is that he will soon be able to fulfil his self-imposed goal of assuming more responsibility on and off the pitch. After all, he is no longer an up-and-coming talent – Burkardt has evolved into a leader in the dressing room and an established Bundesliga player. Whether things have been going well or badly, the attacker has grown at every stage of his career. Talking about his new role, the attacker explained, “Before the season began, I wanted to have more responsilbility and a bigger role off the pitch. The team and the coach were in favour of that, which made me really happy.”

The first week of the season is going to be full of personal highlights for Burkardt. Eight days after the cup clash, he will reunite with one of his closest sporting mentors at the MEWA ARENA. After all, the 05ers’ first game of the season is at home against Union Berlin who have a new head coach in Bo Svensson. The former Mainz head coach worked with Burkardt not only at youth level, but also for FSV’s senior side, and helped shape him into the player he is today. The striker explained that it will be anything but a normal game. “It’s going to be the first time that he’s sat in the other dugout,” noted Burkardt. He continued by saying that it will feel odd, but ultimately will not play a role over the 90 minutes. “Since we stayed up, which Bo congratulated me about, we haven’t had any contact. I’m looking forward to seeing him again. It’s definitely going to be an emotional game for him. It will be special to come back. I’m sure he’ll get a warm welcome, but the points are going to stay in Mainz,” asserted the home-grown talent.