Mainz confirm long-term loss of Guilavogui as injury problems persist
FSV Mainz 05 - even amidst the celebrations accompanying their first win of the season - are still facing injury problems in their defensive corps.
Veteran central defender Josuha Guilavogui's first league start since joining his new club as a free-agent this past September lasted only 16 minutes. The long-time VfL Wolfsburg captain had to be subbed off early in Saturday's 2-0 win over RB Leipzig after incurring a thigh injury. On Monday, the Pfälzer club confirmed that the 33-year-old would be missing for an extended period of time a suspected torn muscle fiber.
In announcing the news on Monday evening, FSV sporting director Martin Schmidt also confirmed that veteran central defender Stefan Bell - after having to be subbed off during the round nine 2-2 draw with VfL Bochum - would also remain unavailable for the coming weekend fixture against Darmstadt. Mainz's season-long injury issues in the thin central defensive corps continue to pose a problem.
"As far as injuries are concerned," Schmidt noted, "We are still not favored by luck."
The back-three working under interim trainer Jan Siewert in his first match in charge since taking over for the departed Bo Svensson still managed to keep it very tight against the highly offensively capable German Red Bulls on Saturday. Danny da Costa took Guilavogui's spot on the pitch, serving at right back whilst Edimilson Fernandes slid into the back-three.
Fernandes is among the Mainz players - fullback Anthony Caci and midfielder Dominik Kohr being the others - who have worked out-of-position in central defense for the FSV thus far this season. There were some other encouraging signs from Fernandes' line-mates on Saturday.Liverpool loanee Sepp van den Berg made some important clearances and appears to have rounded himself into form.
Finally back earning regular minutes after a long rehabilitation process designed to help him overcome physical and mental exhaustion, German youth international Maxim Leitsch played one of his finest matches in Rheinhessen colors. Leitsch has started three of the last four league matches. Though his performance in the recent Pokal loss left much to be desired, the 25-year-old has earned strong marks for his league work in the German press.