"Mainz 05 are a very good team who showed their quality again last weekend – and they turned the game round after going behind and also had a goal disallowed," said the Werkself head coach in showing recognition and respect to the team in 15th place for their determination in the 3-2 win against VfB Stuttgart. For that reason, Herrlich did not want to overestimate the current relegation troubles of the team coached by Sandro Schwartz: "Mainz are picking up points. They've been in Europe twice in the past four years. They are in a tricky position in the table but they can beat every team. They showed what they're capable of when we met them earlier in the season."
room for improvement against Mainz 05
Back then, the Werkself took the lead but it was 1-1 just before half-time and they lost the plot after the restart ending with a 3-1 defeat. "The second half, in particular, was by far our worst performance of the season – the team produced a display that nobody would really wants to see," recalled Herrlich. It's not about not being allowed to lose but he believes his team misplaced all their strengths after the equaliser, didn't resist and did not give their all, "to put them in a position to turn it round. We don't want to see that sort of display again and we have to make amends."
A look at the stats shows there is good reason to respect Mainz: Bayer 04 have only come out on top in nine of the 23 meetings to date (four draws, ten defeats). And the Black and Reds have not been that successful at home either: Four wins in the clashes with the team from the Rhineland Palatinate compare with three draws and four defeats. Accordingly, Herrlich demanded: "We have to be ready on Sunday to produce 100 per cent of our potential."
question mark Over Lars Bender
Bayer 04 are not just looking for a home win on Sunday to improve the record in this fixture. "We haven't managed to win three games on the bounce so far this season," stated Herrlich. His team need to find consistency in the impressive, recent performances. Particularly as Bayer 04 are currently second in the table. "Actually, there's not really any chance of going higher this season. Now we're being chased and that's different from being the chaser," said Herrlich before adding: "Six or seven teams are close together at the top – we have to make sure we don't ease off."
It remains to be seen whether Lars Bender can play: After the Werkself captain had to be taken off with a thigh problem in the recent 4-1 win away to TSG Hoffenheim, the 28-year-old has not been able to take a full part in training this week. "We'll have to take a look today and tomorrow to see if he might be able to play. But I don't want to take any risks," explained Herrlich. This game definitely comes to early for Vladlen Yurchenko who only returned to full training at the start of this week after two months out injured.
During the press conference it was also announced that Bayer 04 have agreed a four-year extension to the partnership with kit supplier JAKO to 2022.
