"Call on these emotions on matchday"
Hertha have won their last two home games in a row. The Blue-Whites would like to extend that run to three with the upcoming home game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday (11.03.23, 15:30 CET). This will be no easy task though, with the Zerofivers having won three straight games, making them one of the most in-form teams in the Bundesliga. The game also has special significance for head coach Sandro Schwarz, who was not only born in capital of Rhineland-Pfalz, but also spent 15 years at the club both as a player and as a coach. “They are a team that is very aggressive, defend well, are prepared to put in lots of running and sprints and play simple football. We are expecting a competitive game. I enjoyed a very intense time there, because of that I am looking forward to the game and seeing lots of familiar faces,” explained the 44-year-old looking forward to the upcoming game in his matchday press conference. herthabsc.com has summarised the key points, as Schwarz spoke about...
… the week’s training ahead of #BSCM05:
Schwarz: The boys are very focussed and concentrated. I have led a few one-on-one conversations with the players, who have also considered their most recent performances in a critical and analytical way. I didn’t have the feeling that another pressure situation has arisen, though. We have been in this position for a number of weeks and have dealt with the situation well in lots of moments so far. It will be important to call on these emotions on matchday with our fans behind us. The boys are looking forward to being able to play a home game again.
… the focus in training sessions:
Schwarz: It will be extremely important to work intensively as a team out of possession, because Mainz play forward very directly, so pressing well is even more important. It will be just as important to play balls forward cleanly having won possession and to find space with not many touches and to transition quickly with precision. This wasn’t good in Leverkusen, but we have spoken about it. We have also worked on positioning in the defensive line, where we have made a couple of positional mistakes recently. We also know that Mainz will be a different task where second balls are also going to be important.
… Mainz and his past at the Zerofivers:
Schwarz: Mainz have won a number of games in a row. They are a team that is very aggressive, defend well, are prepared to put in lots of running and sprints and play simple football. We are expecting a competitive game. It’s then about asserting yourself. I enjoyed a very intense time there, because of that I am looking forward to the game and seeing lots of familiar faces. The aim is obviously to take the three points back with us to Berlin.