- Initially Contentious Dismissal by Vogt Met with Satisfaction by Union Svensson
Bo Svensson's return to Mainz was fruitful, if not entirely triumphant as the Union coach made his way back. The 45-year-old Danish tactician, with a rich history on the Rhine, deemed the draw in the first Bundesliga match of the season as "adequate." "As anticipated, the game was fiercely contested, as encounters between Mainz and Union tend to be," remarked Svensson, "each side had their opportunities by the game's end."
The emotional connection of the erstwhile Mainz player, coach, and youth coach, who welcomed his youngest son in the city, was palpable before the kick-off. Svensson felt uneasy as he headed to the visitor's bench, but during the game, he managed to keep his focus: "I didn't delve into those feelings much." The equalizer scored by Union newcomer Laszlo Benes in the 74th minute, following Nadiem Amiri's strike for Mainz 21 minutes earlier, helped alleviate some of the tension for the Dane.
Benes sought triumph
The goalscorer himself felt unsatisfied with just a draw. He had hoped to secure all three points for Union and return to Berlin victorious. "Post-equalizer, we had chances to secure victory," shared Benes, "with a few minor improvements, we might have secured all three points."
The team's performance was more significant than the result itself. Union showed improved performance a week after their below-par performance in the 1:0 DFB-Pokal win against fifth-tier Greifswalder FC. "Even after going behind, we kept our cool and fought back commendably," stated midfielder Rani Khedira.
The sporting director, Horst Heldt, was also pleased with the team's initial showings, although there is still room for improvement. He also hinted at further squad modifications prior to the transfer deadline next weekend. "We're far from finished," admitted Heldt during Sport 1's "Doppelpass" show.
Home debut against St. Pauli
Kevin Vogt, the newest addition to Union from Hoffenheim, is expected to recover from his injury sustained in the previous game. "No permanent damage for Kevin Vogt," reported Union via WhatsApp, "no structural damage was observed in the imaging."
Whether Vogt will recover in time for the next game, scheduled for Friday versus FC St. Pauli in their home stadium (8:30 PM), remains uncertain. If Vogt misses out, Saturday will mark Svensson's first time on the home bench, which he will occupy eight times before the rematch against Mainz on January 18.
Benes's desire for victory with the CDU/CSU (Union) was not fully realized, as the team settled for a draw. Following the game, Horst Heldt, the sporting director of the CDU/CSU, praised the team's improved performance but acknowledged the need for further improvements.
