Dominik Kohr: “Why shouldn’t we play an attacking brand of football?”

Despite arriving back to Mainz in the early hours of Monday after the 2-0 win away in Heidenheim, the 31-year-old was in fact not feeling tired following the late journey home on the team bus and a long day’s work. “I just find it impossible to sleep after a late kick-off because the adrenaline is always still pumping,” explained Kohr on Monday. “Whenever we win, I always enjoy watching the highlights back and then I play a game on my phone. Spirits were high on the coach journey back and everyone was having a good time.” Victories on the road, such as the latest one away in Heidenheim, leave the players with an especially good feeling. “It’s nice when things come together since we work hard every day towards getting results like this one. The time from when you wake up in the hotel to getting going at kick-off always drags, so it makes the journey home much more pleasant to have three points in the bag.”

"I take my hat off to them"

The Mainz fans once again played a key role in the most recent win, providing impassioned, vocal support for the 05ers in Heidenheim, which Kohr recognises the value of and has great respect for. “The backing we’ve got from the fans this season has been unbelievable, especially with regard to away matches. They are behind us from the first second to the last,” emphasised the defender, acknowledging the great deals of time and energy that supporters expend in following their side. “The effort that these fans put in cannot be taken for granted. The bus journeys are both long and expensive and I can’t imagine they get much sleep, especially for trips such as the one to Heidenheim. I take my hat off to them for all of that.” The impact of the fans for Kohr and his team may be most prominent right before each game. “When we come out for the warm-up and see a packed away end already, that obviously really motivates us. There is then no better feeling than when you score a goal and run to celebrate together with the supporters,” told the 31-year-old about Mainz’s backing.

Football in his DNA

The fact that Kohr has had a career in professional football does not come as much of a surprise, since not only both his father and grandfather plied their trade in the game but his younger sister as well. “I suppose I’ve just been blessed with some good genes,” viewed the 05er in light of his family’s shared profession. However, he does possess a notable difference in comparison to his relatives. “My dad, granddad and sister are all strikers, but I’m a defender, of course.” It was primarily he and his sister, who now plays her football in the top flight in Luxembourg, that would practice together growing up. “We would spend most of our time after school out in a field behind our house kicking a ball around with some friends. My sister always wanted to join in and she gave us a good game so we didn’t hold back,” reported Kohr on his first forays into the sport.

The 31-year-old, who grew up in Trier, has already had various postings throughout Germany in his career. He started out at TuS Issel before joining Bayer Leverkusen, where Kohr spent eight years and for whom he made his Bundesliga debut. “I stayed at home during my first year with the club, continuing to train with my youth team during the week before travelling to Leverkusen just for the final training session ahead of each game,” explained the defender with regard to the beginnings of his professional career, which has since seen him move to play for both Augsburg and Frankfurt before he joined Mainz on an initial loan in January 2021, although his transfer was made permanent a year and a half later.

It is with his current club that he is faced with the possibility of achieving something that would have seemed almost unbelievable a year ago. “We have the chance now to accomplishment what no Mainz team has done before, which is to finish in the top four in the Bundesliga come the end of the season,” explained Kohr regarding his team’s position in the table, sitting just two points below the Champions League qualification spots. “Why shouldn’t we play an open and attacking brand of football? We have nothing to lose and that allows us the freedom to keep on playing our game which will hopefully instil us with the confidence we need for the final 12 matches of the season.”

"Cannot allow St. Pauli to get into the game"

The latest hurdle on the 05ers’ path towards European qualification stands in their way this coming Saturday in the shape of a visit from FC St. Pauli to the MEWA ARENA (kick-off 15:30 CET). The game also bears significance as Mainz’s 2025 carnival matchday. Kohr possesses fond memories of the reverse fixture last October when FSV ran out 3-0 winners away at the Millerntor but he is nevertheless readying himself for the arrival of a tricky and tenacious opponent. “Our goals came from good counter-attacks the last time we played them and they did create a number of chances, too. Therefore, the match was not nearly as one-sided as the score line made it appear,” warned the defender concerning the threat of the Kiezkicker. “I am in no doubt that St. Pauli will give it their all and will most likely operate via long balls. For that reason, we need to concentrate on ensuring the ball remains in the opponent’s half and on putting our own stamp on proceedings. We cannot allow St. Pauli to get into the game if we are to secure the next three points in front of our home fans.”