Time to knuckle down in “a significant period”

The players who have not been called up by their respective national sides meet for a final training session this week on Wednesday morning before being given a couple of days off to complete individual training at home. Bo Henriksen led a squad bolstered by youth players Jason Amann, Marcel Kalemba and Taiyu Yamasaki from the U23s, as well as U19 talent Daniel Imafidon for a training session on Tuesday but the head coach reports that a break from league action should do his team good. After an intense past few months, “it will benefit everyone to have some time off, especially since we have often fielded a very similar line-up.” While this continuity of personnel assists his side on the one hand, Henriksen explained to the media on Tuesday that he is constantly re-evaluating the situation of his squad players, too.

the Mainz head coah also spoke about...

...Jonny Burkardt and Nadiem Amiri’s Germany call-ups: “Hopefully, they can gain further confidence and soak up the whole experience. I also hope that they get the chance to show what they can do in the games against Italy while remaining free of injury. They should return to Mainz in high spirits because it’s obviously a great honour to represent your country. Their call-ups speak for the development that Mainz 05 has made as well.”

...negative consequences that success can have: “I am not concerned with departures in summer because that is the job of Christian Heidel and Niko Bungert. When you enjoy success then your players get noticed and often end up being sold which has always been the case for Mainz 05. I am just proud that we have a group of players here who are always improving.”

...the final period of the season: “If we press on over the course of the final weeks of the campaign then we are in a good position to continue to pick up points. We want to win every game we play so that we can celebrate together with the fans. This is a significant period of the season – nine matches are still to be played and we hope to have achieved something by the time they are through.”

...the approach with squad players: “As the coach, I have to be honest and I obviously am in discourse with the lads who are unhappy with their minutes. The case with Silvan for example is that Titi and Phillipp are having such unbelievable seasons. He is nevertheless the captain, who gives his all in every training session and knows how important he is to this team. Performances on the pitch are what make the difference, though, and at the moment Titi’s are simply better. Andreas Hanche-Olsen is also frustrated because he played so well last season. However, we require each and every player and need to know that they are ready to be called upon.”

...contrasts between summer signings Hyunseok Hong and Kaishu Sano: “Hong is a great player but he just needs a bit longer to adapt to the style of the Bundesliga. For example, he needs to work on his intensity when going for second balls and into tackles. Kaishu Sano had to do the same, but things have simply gone a bit quicker for him – he’s now become one of the best holding midfielders in the league. He faced a few bumps in the road to begin with as well, but has been able to overcome those. Others have also found the adjustment tough going, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”