Compared to the large protest posters in the Mainz fan curve against the investor deal, the hand-painted cardboard sign appeared quite modest. Television cameras nevertheless captured how lovingly some FSV Mainz 05 supporters greeted their new coach Bo Henriksen: “Bo 2 – can do.” What the second Bo – after his Danish compatriot Bo Svensson – achieved on his Bundesliga debut was something that even bold optimists probably wouldn’t have expected. After the convincing performance against FC Augsburg (1-0), the appendix asked the players to sit on the lawn to celebrate with “Humba offenderä”.
A procedure that fit the hopeful’s philosophy. The man represents passion, energy and activity. “It was a fantastic day for the team, for the fans and for me. I didn’t see any fear on the pitch, that’s the most important thing,” said Henriksen, 49, who could enrich the league with his unwavering optimism. Club boss Stefan Hofmann sees “a positively crazy person” at work who fits the location well at this moment. In any case, better than the deserving Svensson, who towards the end of his term in office was almost entirely negative; and of course better than its pale predecessor, Jan Siewert.
If this game doesn’t prove to be a coincidental coaching debut effect, Mainz 05 could soon leave the penultimate place in the table. The light in the table cellar is at least switched on again and the spirits are awakened. “He said to himself: I’ll bring fire to the shop. He did it in a way: Hats off!” praised board member Christian Heidel. He noticed this “emotional type” when FC Zurich developed from a relegation candidate to a top club under his direction.
Augsburg’s coach Thorup knew what was coming: he is also Danish
Now you have a whip on the line whose attitude was at least a little reminiscent of the wild Jürgen Klopp in the old Bruchweg Stadium. The Dane ran his hands through his long hair, clapped his hands and urged the players forward. It would be advisable to also determine your mileage on the line. “Bo is a whirlwind,” said Heidel, “we’ll see where this goes now.” On Friday, however, we go to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen. “We’re not going there now to lose as little as possible,” announced the boss with a mischievous grin. Apparently the new coach’s confidence is really contagious. During the week, the coach had promised the second win of the season so convincingly “that the players believed in it in the end” (Heidel).
His footballing approach is obviously based on the so-called “Danish Dynamite”, the spectacular style of play with which Denmark’s national team won hearts in the 80s. When Nadiem Amiri missed Mainz’s fourth penalty in a row in stoppage time in the first half, Henriksen shouted in the dressing room: “Keep attacking! Keep attacking!”
An example of Mainz’s commitment was the young attacker Brajan Gruda, who had to go to hospital covered in blood after an unfortunate kick from a teammate during the final training session. “The whole face is torn up: I would have thought he wouldn’t play football for the next ten weeks,” said Heidel. “Then he runs up with a mask, throws it away and gets in – that’s a sign, it’s a relegation battle.”
Like Gruda, Winter signing Amiri is now living out his freedom in forward gear. Amiri was a “total stroke of luck,” said Heidel, especially since the midfielder, on loan from Leverkusen, also hit the free-kick cross that defender Sepp van den Berg converted into the decisive goal (44th). However, the former Mainz player Finn Dahmen helped with his erratic flight, and the FCA keeper was also fully committed (“I look unhappy”). Augsburg coach Jess Thorup later had to sheepishly admit: “We weren’t ready. But I knew what was coming.” Of course the men know each other: Jess Thorup is also Danish.