Mainz not getting carried away after victory over Strasbourg in UEFA Conference League
Despite seeing off Strasbourg 2-0 in the first leg of their maiden European quarter-final on Thursday evening, Mainz are not allowing complacency to creep in ahead of the return game in France next week.
It was a memorable night at the MEWA Arena as screamers from Kaishu Sano and Stefan Posch put Mainz 2-0 up on aggregate and into the driving seat in their UEFA Conference League tie with Strasbourg.
This result is just the latest in an extended run of good form for Urs Fischer's side, who have now lost just one of their last 13 games in all competitions (eight victories, four draws) and are currently on a five-game winning streak.
At full time, the Swiss coach - who assumed the reins back in December when Mainz were bottom of the table - was full of praise for his side's performance, though he did excercise restraint in his plaudits.
“We did a lot of things really well and we controlled the game,” Fischer told German broadcaster RTL+, before highlighting a period in the second half during which his team came under sustained pressure. “We had the luck we needed there. If they had made it 2-1, the game would have opened up again, even though we had enough chances for a third goal.”
Mainz's sporting director Niko Bungert echoed the sentiments of his head coach but was also quick to downplay their growing status as favourites to qualify for the final four, explaining he doesn't like talk of the job being “half done”.
“It sounds like sitting back, as if you’ve already achieved something [...],” he added. “If we give even one percent less than we did today, then things will become difficult.”
Mainz's mental resilience in working towards a common goal is a credit to the work done by Fischer and his staff since their arrival. It is a mindset which pervades all areas of the club.
Paul Nebel, who capped an electric performance with the assist for Posch's goal, embodied the mentality instilled by Fischer and Bungert in his post-match comments.
The 23-year-old said: “It would be bad if we didn't dream big, but we have to put in the work on the pitch to achieve what we have in mind.”
