Mainz coach Urs Fischer: 'I'll give everything to beat Union Berlin'
Unbeaten in his first four games in charge of Mainz, Urs Fischer will hope to continue his steady start to life at the MEWA Arena when he takes his new side to Union Berlin – the club he guided from Bundesliga 2 to the UEFA Champions League in a hugely successful five-year spell.
The Bundesliga caught up with the Swiss tactician to discuss his first month in charge of Die Nullfünfer, the club's big-name former bosses, filling Jonathan Burkardt's boots, and what is guaranteed to be an emotional return to the Stadion an der Alten Försterei this weekend.
How are you feeling heading into the new year as Mainz head coach?
Urs Fischer: "The first two weeks were really intense. We had four matches in 11 days, so there was very little time to work on details or really train properly. The main focus was on achieving a certain level of stability, and I think we managed that reasonably well. It was hectic and stressful, but the results were positive. That naturally made it enjoyable as well."
Watch: Mainz held Bayern to a 2-2 draw in Fischer's first league game at the helm
Mainz is considered a 'coach's club', in part because of successful former bosses such as Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. Is that something you think about?
Fischer: "What lies in the past is gone and ultimately no longer plays a role. Of course, Jürgen Klopp was extremely successful here and went on to have an outstanding coaching career. Whether that is connected to his time in Mainz is something I genuinely cannot judge, as I've only been here since early December."
How does Mainz's DNA – strength in duels and a compact approach – match your preferred style of play?
Fischer: "I'd describe Urs Fischer football as organised and compact. It doesn't have to be purely defensive, and it doesn't have to be purely attacking either. What matters to me is finding the right balance. For me, two key aspects are being compact and well organised over the 90 minutes, and this squad already has many of those qualities."
Watch: Jürgen Klopp's Bundesliga 2 journey
Is the striker position an area you need to work on?
Fischer: "Losing a top scorer like [Jonathan] Burkardt obviously makes a difference – not just because of the goals he scored, but also because of his presence. We now have a new forward in [former Augsburg player] Philip Tietz,. He's physically strong, comfortable in the penalty area and can be fed with a cross rather than coming deep to pick the ball up. That gives us options."
How are you feeling about the trip to Union Berlin, where you were so successful for five years?
Fischer: "I can't really say what my feelings will be. It was a very successful five years […] but that chapter is over. My current task is to help Mainz climb out of the relegation zone, and I will give everything over the full 90 or 95 minutes to secure the points."
What kind of atmosphere are you expecting? A friendly welcome?
Fischer: "For the 90 minutes? No, definitely not! I have friends there, of course, but during the match I’ll try to put that aside because it's all about survival and securing important points. Once the referee blows the final whistle, I'm sure there will be time to say hello."
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