Bundesliga News

Germany: Bundesliga
FT
1 - 2
(1 - 1)
Gladbach
Mainz 05
L. Stindl (26)
K. Onisiwo (10), K. Stöger (86)

Svensson fully prepared to start Glatzel

By Peter Weis   @PeterVicey

Mainz trainer Bo Svensson spent much of the week praising his team for the grit displayed in their late comeback against Leverkusen last round. 

Insofar as star transfer Robert Glatzel is concerned, the Mainzer gaffer declared that he now "trusts him to play from the start."
Robert Glatzel.
Robert Glatzel.Photo: Northside, CC BY-SA 3.0
The uniquely tailored 3-4-3 in use at Mainz over the past few weeks must once again do without Robin Quaison this weekend. Whether head-coach Bo Svensson is prepared to insert Robert Glatzel into his starting XI at the expense of either Karim Onisiwo or Adam Szalai remains uncertain.


The 41-year-old-trainer faces former Rheinhessen teammate Marco Rose this weekend; a man he has enormous respect for both as a footballer and tactician. Svensson has nevertheless been dropping hints that he's begun to visualize a way to get Glatzel in.

"I would trust Robert to play from the start," Svensson told members of the assembled media on Thursday, "He's in the swing of things. He performed well in two appearances off the bench. It's quite possible he will play from the start."

Svensson acknowledged that he would have the rethink his tactics somewhat if both Szalai and Glatzel were to get the nod. To have two tall target forwards deployed in a set-up clearly designed for a pair of false nines requires a rethink. Svensson emphasized it wouldn't necessarily be a big one.

"Even if Adam and Robert are similar in terms of physique, for me nothing really speaks against it," he noted, "it would be a bit different tactically, but absolutely conceivable."

"Robert has proven his quality and his importance for this squad," Svensson added, "you could see that in training this week."





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