Christian Heidel lauds his "Tuchel-esque" trainer: "Bo is a guy who is tactically outstanding"
Once Thomas Tuchel took the reins at Chelsea FC, the media circus commenced. Practically every British media outlet phoned up Mainz trainer Bo Svensson to talk about his time serving as a player under his former trainer and couldn't help asking the Dane if he saw a similar career path for himself in the coming years.
The modest Svensson has publicly voiced his displeasure at such comparisons, but recently returned club CEO Christian Heidel has apparently has few qualms about making them.
As a guest on the club's official podcast this week, Christian Heidel simply couldn't help himself. A new aura of optimism surrounds the Nullfünfter after Bo Svensson revamped XI delivered upset wins over RB Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach in recent weeks. A draw against Dortmund, a late comeback against Leverkusen, and a win over 1. FC Union Berlin also constitute successes.
The modest Svensson has publicly voiced his displeasure at such comparisons, but recently returned club CEO Christian Heidel has apparently has few qualms about making them.
"Bo is a guy who is tactically outstanding," Heidel confided to the podcast host, "Even if he doesn't like the comparison so much, of course he already shows Tuchel's traits. The way he works with the players, how he asserts himself in training, the way he adapts the team, and how everyone knows just what to do."
According to Heidel, the entire culture of the team has turned around in the seven short weeks since Svensson took over. From his point of view, the Dane has effectively stamped his influence on the club's preparation scheme.
"The way we train has changed completely," Heidel noted, "It's much easier to execute on the pitch come Saturday after we've trained well all week: firm and intense, yet well dosed."
The Pfälzer currently find themselves one point off Bielefeld for the relegation playoff place. No team that had as few points as Mainz at the conclusion of the Hinrunde has ever managed to escape relegation. Wins against Augsburg and Schalke in the next two weeks could see them clear the playoff place outright.
"I'm more confident than ever that we have a great chance of staying in the league," Heidel concluded.