Mainz: Zidan brings back magic

Marco Caligiuri and Co. tried all they could to stop Claudio Pizarro in the first game this season. But it didn’t work.
First Team
Thursday, 29.03.2012 / 18:06

After being away nearly five years, Mohamed Zidan returned to Mainz in early February from Borussia Dortmund. And he came back freed, confident and carefree. The Egyptian international scored six goals...

After being away nearly five years, Mohamed Zidan returned to Mainz in early February from Borussia Dortmund. And he came back freed, confident and carefree. The Egyptian international scored six goals in his first six games back with Mainz. And this tremendous showing especially helped the confidence of his teammates. And now Mainz appears on a good path of ridding themselves of any worries about relegation.

Christian Heidel: "We still need six to eight points"

But Mainz still have a bit of regulation worries coming into the game at Weser Stadium on Saturday 31 March 2012 at 3:30 p.m. They only have a three-point cushion on the relegation ranks. "We are not ignoring where we are in the table and how many points we have. After all we can all read the table. The fact that the situation is a bit problematic is our own fault and we are paying for all the points we failed to pick up along the way," said Mainz head coach Thomas Tuchel. His team's situation was worsened a bit by their last two bitter losses against Augsburg (2-1) and Hertha Berlin (3-1).

Naldo in a challenge with attacker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

"They switch their style a lot and certainly do not have the certainty back that had distinguished them last year," said Werder head coach Thomas Schaaf about Mainz. "But they gained a very important player with Zidan." But the 30-year-old former Bremen player also struggled to find his form in the last two games against teams at the bottom of the standings. "He had a great start and we would have been happy if he continued it," Mainz manager Christian Heidel told the kicker magazine. But Heidel pointed his criticism to the entire team. "Everyone has to be aware of what it's all about. We still need six to eight points. The biggest mistake would be to think we will just take care of it with no problem."

But the missing consistency doesn't change the deadliness of Mainz's team. Schaaf said the team runs very intensively. "They change their tactics very well, partially with a diamond in the midfield. They push forward very quickly," said Schaaf, who also mentioned the dangerous attack featuring Zidan, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Nicolai Müller and Adam Szalai. "We have to limit them and keep them in check," said Schaaf. Meanwhile, the Werder coach spoke of the importance of Claudio Pizarro. "He really enriches our game and we are happy that he is back," said the coach, who also knows that the other 10 Green-Whites must do their part to get three important points on their way to their final goal - qualification for the Europa League.

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