- Following the Union's return to Mainz, Svensson's beloved sanctuary remains intact.
Union Berlin's manager, Bo Svensson, is all hyped up for his revisit to Mainz during their first Bundesliga clash with the Köpenickers. "It's a significant spot for me. My youngest kid was born there. That speaks volumes about my connection to Mainz," the Danish coach shared prior to the match set for Saturday at 3:30 PM/Sky. "So I'm excited to run into lots of familiar faces again."
Svensson spent a substantial part of his career in Mainz, starting as a player, then moving on to be a youth coach, and eventually serving as head coach from January 2021 to November 2023. His heartfelt goodbye message garnered him admiration beyond the city on the Rhine.
Svensson is well-acquainted with most of Mainz's team members. "This offers us, as the coaching staff, a certain edge in terms of information," said the manager. "However, at the same time, the players also have a good understanding of how I think and prefer to play." Mainz has been on a roll lately, particularly at home.
If Svensson and his side aim to bring back something substantial, they will need to dramatically up their game above the narrow cup win against fourth-tier team Greifswald.
Significant offensive advancements were evident during preparations, but in the first competitive fixture, Berlin was as lethal as they were in numerous underwhelming matches last season. "We opened up the issues post-match in Greifswald," Svensson admitted. "We weren't satisfied with the first half." Nevertheless, he wasn't disheartened. Mainz also had a grueling battle against third-tier side Wiesbaden.
Svensson's time in Mainz as a player, coach, and manager has left him with many fond memories and close connections within the football community there. His previous stint as Mainz's head coach, from January 2021 to November 2023, was a period of growth and admiration for him.
As Union Berlin prepares to face Mainz this weekend, Svensson's familiarity with many of their players could potentially give him an advantage, but they will need to significantly improve their performance beyond their narrow cup win against Greifswald to stand a chance against Mainz, who have been performing well, especially at home.
