Not everything is new at FSV Mainz 05 under coach Urs Fischer – but after winning a point against Bayern it is clear: something has changed. Danny da Costa also praises this.
As referee Robin Braun Mainz 05’s point win at FC Bayern Munich When the final whistle sounded, Mainz collapsed. The Rhenish Hessians ran 132.47 kilometers together – and not without reason.
Mainz 05 against Bayern: run, run, run
“That’s also necessary in order to survive and somehow take a point,” said Danny da Costa in an interview with SWR Sport the day after the 2-2 draw against Bayern: “It was clear that we had to work a lot against the ball and that it was important that we shift in contact.”
The defender handled the stress “actually quite well”. After the sometimes disastrous defeats like the last one in Freiburg (0:4), the first Bundesliga game was a draw with the new head coach Urs Fscher on the sidelines a surprising success.
Harry Kane only saves Munich shortly before the end
Even more could have been possible, after all Harry Kane had equalized with a penalty kick shortly before the end (87th minute of the game). Da Costa was satisfied, but: “I think I would have been a little more happy if we had somehow managed to get the three points.”
And yet it was also thanks to keeper Daniel Batz that Mainz were able to equalize. Kacper Potulski scored his first Bundesliga goal to make it 1-1 shortly before half-time. “Especially in the first half we needed our goalkeeper, who clearly kept us in the game,” analyzed head coach Fischer.
Batz himself didn’t want to set his performance too high: “I just try to do my job.” And then commented critically: “Unfortunately, I don’t have a win in the Bundesliga yet.”
Da Costa, however, praised the “united team performance”. Mainz 05 “really suffered a lot on the pitch and tried to endure when we didn’t actually have the ball for minutes.” Stay positive and implement the plan you have made. If “not-so-consistent Bavarians” come along, “you can also get a point in Munich.”
Urs Fischer didn’t turn everything around at Mainz 05
Mainz 05 have already shown this resilience under former coach Bo Henriksen: “Even though we didn’t get the points, I never had the feeling that the team was falling apart. And I think that has a lot to do with the coach.”
According to Fischer, da Costa since he took up his post on December 7th Not only small things have been corrected: “The speech has changed a bit, as has the approach. I would say that it’s not that much that he has brought in now.” But the effect is immense: “More unity, less Wild West,” said da Costa.
However, the Mainz team doesn’t have much time to enjoy their success. Because Samsunspor is already waiting in the Conference League on Thursday (December 18, 2025).
Da Costa therefore advocated “all thoughts towards Matchday (9 p.m. live in the audio stream on SWR Sport)” and not to think about the trend-setting smash on Sunday against FC St. Pauli (3:30 p.m. live in the audio stream on sportschau.de).
Conference League: Mainz against Samsunspor on Thursday
“Because you have the opportunity to qualify directly for the round of 16. That would be a huge step. It also has the advantage that you can then maybe save yourself two English weeks. That’s why it’s an extremely important game,” said da Costa. And with a little more calm in February, Mainz 05 can tackle the relegation battle with new courage in the new year.
