After the full-time whistle went at the MEWA Arena last Saturday, one only had to glance up to find the reason for the wild celebrations amongst the Mainz fans. 2-1 read the scoreboard – a fantastic home win for the 05ers. It's a game that Anthony Caci won't be likely to forget anytime soon. "The mood after the full-time whistle and in the dressing room was obviously amazing. We then had our holiday party later on, where we also had a lot of fun," Caci said. The Frenchman had played a huge part in FSV's victory, being involved in both their goals. He helped initiate both attacks by getting the ball to Armindo Sieb, with the striker then providing the assist for both of Jae-sung Lee's goals. Caci showed off his skills when setting up his side's second goal in particular, nutmegging Bayern's Minjae Kim with a back heel pass. "The goal to make it 2-0 was the product of a great team effort, and Nadiem's cross, Armindo's assist and Jae-sung's finish were all fantastic – overall, it was just a really nice goal," Mainz's number 19 recalled.
"Can't always find an explanation why certain things happen in football"
When asked why the 05ers are on such a good run of form at the minute, Caci was prepared with a simple answer: "I think what's making us so strong at the moment is the fact that we have been able to enjoy a lot of success lately and win games. That's helped us gain the confidence needed in order to win games in the Bundesliga." This proved to also be a key factor in Mainz's successful afternoon in Munich last Saturday. "You need a lot of confidence to be able to play well against Bayern München," Caci explained. "They came to Mainz at the right moment, because we are currently in good form, even despite our recent defeat in Wolfsburg."
This good form is not just being enjoyed by the team, but also by Caci himself. The midfielder provided three assists in November, leading him to be nominated for the Bundesliga's Player of the Month award. The Frenchman has been featuring regularly on the right of FSV's attack, a position he enjoys playing in. "Having a clearly defined role on the pitch helps give me security, because I'm able to better position myself, which has a positive impact on my performance – that's why things are going so well for me at the minute," Caci said. This success is reflected in the table as well, with FSV currently on 22 points from the first 14 matches of the season – their best record at this stage of a campaign since the 2010/11 season under Thomas Tuchel. Last season, Mainz needed 28 matchdays to reach the same tally, with the memories of their tough start to 2023/24 still fresh in Caci's mind. "Last year, we didn't get off to a great start and lost several games at the beginning of the season. You can't always find an explanation as for why certain things happen in football. It's difficult to break that cycle when things aren't going well. In contrast, if you start winning a couple games in a row, then you're able to gain confidence and things start to fall into place on their own. It's important to be consistent during phases like that, in order to be able to reap the benefits," Caci explained.
"The pressure will be more on Eintracht"
Mainz are currently preparing for their final game of the year, as they travel to face Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (15:30 CET). Caci is looking forward to coming up against the league's current third-placed. "A derby is always something special. It will come down to us managing to bring the spirit that currently defines us, as well as the confidence from the win against Bayern, to Frankfurt with us," Caci said, although he added that the hosts will be seen as the favourites this weekend. "I think the pressure will be more on Eintracht. If we manage to play like we did against Bayern München, then we stand a good chance of winning the game."
Around 5,800 Mainz fans will accompany the team as they make the short, 45-kilometer trip to Frankfurt this weekend. "It's always a huge boost for us to have so many fans come to watch us play," Caci said, abd the midfielder is hoping to end the year on a high. "It won't be a home game for us in Frankfurt, but it gives us a good feeling knowing that we will be able to count on our fans. We're very grateful to have them and hope that we will be able to pay back their support with a win on Saturday."
"Soak up some sunshine and stay in the moment"
After this weekend, the players will be able to enjoy a short winter break before their first game of the new year against VfL Bochum on 11th January. Caci will be using this time to enjoy a short holiday with his family. "Together with my girlfriend and our daughter, we'll head south to hopefully soak up some sun," Caci said. The midfielder hasn't set himself any specific football-related goals for the coming year, preferring to focus on the here and now. "For us, it's important to stay in the moment and to remain focused on what's happening right now," Caci explained. "We definitely need to become more consistent with our performances, in order to be able to celebrate as many wins as possible – then, we'll see where we end up."