Niko Kovac's plan to defeat a "very difficult" Mainz | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund have fond memories of their most recent match against Mainz. In March, Dortmund defeated FSV 3–1 (2–0) and celebrated two firsts: Maxi Beier scored two of the three goals, netting his first brace for the Black and Yellows, while Nico Schlotterbeck took corner kicks for his team for the first time in his career – and did such a good job that he managed to set up Emre Can for the team's second goal and Beier for the third.

A repeat of these situations against the 13th-placed team is now possible again, at least in terms of personnel, since last Sunday: Nico Schlotterbeck returned to the squad and the starting line-up in the 1-0 win over Wolfsburg after almost six months out with injury. “Schlotti coped well with his return,” explained Niko Kovac at the press conference ahead of the away game in Mainz. The centre-back is set to start again for the Black & Yellows on Saturday. Nevertheless, Kovac emphasises that he may take Schlotterbeck off the pitch “if we can afford to”.

The match against Mainz has definitely come around too early for Emre Can and Julien Duranville. According to Kovac, Aaron Anselmino, who completed parts of team training this week, will not be ready to play a part either. Serhou Guirassy, who took a blow to the thigh against Wolfsburg, is fit to play. Niklas Süle and Fabio Silva could also be alternatives for the squad, depending on how the final training session on Friday goes.

“All the other players are fit and firing,” said Kovac, who will need a healthy squad against Bo Henriksen’s team: “We won the last game, but we didn’t blow them away,” recalls the BVB coach, who praises Mainz for their “strong running” and “high pressing”. The Rhineland-Palatinate club owes this primarily to their coach: when Bo Henriksen took over FSV in February 2024, the club was still in a direct relegation spot. The Dane not only led Mainz to safety, but even to the UEFA Conference League last season.

“They have developed very well under him,” said Kovac, even if they “didn’t start this season as they would have liked”. The BVB coach is referring to his opponents’ Bundesliga record: Henriksen’s team started the current season with two defeats (Köln, Leipzig) and a draw (Wolfsburg) – but FSV recently secured their first win of the season with a 4-1 victory away to FC Augsburg despite falling a man down. According to Kovac, Mainz are above all a “very difficult opponent”.

BVB coach Niko Kovac:  “Defence begins up front”His team recently put their confidence into practice in their 1-0 home win against Wolfsburg. “A 1-0 win doesn’t sound like much at first,” says the BVB coach, who was very satisfied with his team. Kovac is referring, for example, to goalscorer Karim Adeyemi, who also worked hard at the back as an attacking player. That is exactly what the coach wants to see from his team, because: “Defence begins up front. It’s very important to me that we work hard up front – then we’ll have fewer problems at the back.”

Perhaps Nico Schlotterbeck will take the corners again in Mainz. Perhaps Maxi Beier will score again. But the most important thing for Niko Kovac is “that every single player gives their all”. That’s the only way BVB can win in Mainz on Saturday – and in doing so keep their undefeated record intact.

Nina Bargel-Neuhaus