Mainz vs. RB Leipzig preview: Life without Svensson begins
Bo Svensson and last-place Mainz have mutually agreed to part ways, meaning U23 trainer Jan Siewert will take charge at home against the Red Bull club.
Mainz
It’s been a horrific start to the campaign for winless Mainz and the midweek Pokal loss to Hertha was the end for Bo Svensson. But, with only a couple days to prepare his side it’s hard to see interim trainer Jan Siewert having an immediate impact against talented Leipzig.
Mainz finished 9th last year and have loads of promising youngsters to pair with experienced attackers Karim Onisiwo and Ludovic Ajorque. Yet, they’ve only scored 9 goals through 9 games and are all over the place defensively.
This season is all about survival and there is still more than enough quality in the squad to stay up.
CEO Christian Heidel said, "Bo's wish was that we would put in a special performance against Leipzig. That is the biggest gift that we can give him."
Team News
Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Nelson Weiper, and Anwar El Ghazi are not expected to be in the team. Brajan Gruda is questionable.
RB Leipzig
Leipzig are coming off a stinging Pokal loss to Wolfsburg which makes a third consecutive cup title unreachable. Still, they sit 5th in league play with many new summer signings flourishing under Marco Rose.
The Red Bull club are undefeated in league play since Matchday 1 without having rested as many players as some other top-level sides. Mohamed Simakan should start once again this weekend and Kevin Kampl could also return to the starting lineup.
Rose commented, “The fact is that we're playing a high-quality team on Saturday. They really don't belong at the bottom of the table. - I'm going to send Bo Svensson a message. I've just watched the video where he says goodbye and I have to say fair play to him. He's a great bloke, a great person and a top coach."
Team News
Dani Olmo is expected to miss the rest of 2023 after a recent shoulder operation and Will Orban is still at least a week away from returning.