Mainz 05 under pressure: injuries and suspensions before the Dortmund game!

Mainz 05 under pressure: injuries and suspensions before the Dortmund game!

In the hustle and bustle of the current football season, 1. FSV Mainz 05 is attracting attention - not only because of their ambitious offensive performances, but also because of the challenges that come with their defense. Coach Bo Henriksen's team is currently at a critical point. While the offense is showing progress, the defense has been decimated. Kicker reports that Henriksen had to rest numerous players on the first day of training of the new week, which bodes badly for the upcoming game against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

A significant loss is Anthony Caci, who will not be available until at least the end of the year due to a hamstring injury in his right thigh. Dominik Kohr was also suspended for the next Bundesliga match after receiving a yellow-red card. These personnel shortages are forcing Mainz to significantly restructure their starting eleven, which is further exacerbating the already tense situation.

Injury concerns and alternatives

The injuries and suspensions have a serious impact on the team. According to Transfermarkt, there are several players who will be out for a long period of time. In addition to the players already mentioned, they report another loss - a 28-year-old player, also with a thigh injury, will be out of action until the end of the year. Added to this is the fact that the team can hardly do with any further absences due to overwork reasons as they prepare for the challenges of the English weeks.

• Anthony Caci: Muskelsehnenverletzung – Ausfall bis mindestens Jahresende
• Dominik Kohr: Gelb-Rot-Sperre – Ausfall für das nächste Spiel
• Stefan Bell, Nadiem Amiri und Robin Zentner: Limitierte Trainingseinheiten zur Entlastung
• Maxim Leitsch: Möglicher Ersatz für Kohr mit wenig Spielpraxis
• Silvan Widmer und Nikolas Veratschnig: Bewerben sich um Cacis Position

Both Widmer and Veratschnig have performed well in international matches recently, but they are also struggling with delays in training. Your playing times are therefore in jeopardy, with the trainer relying on all alternatives to compensate for Caci's loss.

Stresses in top football

The situation at Mainz 05 reflects a larger trend in top-level football. A current study shows that the number of injuries in the Bundesliga has risen sharply in recent years. The number of injuries per team increased from 31 in the 2020/21 season to 43 in the 2023/24 season, according to the players' union FIFPro. This corresponds to an increase of 38.7 percent, with the Bundesliga even recording an increase of 66 percent.

The workload of the players is getting higher and higher. On average, top players play over 70 games per season, often with only short recovery times in between. FC Bayern Munich, which is about to take part in the Club World Cup, only has a twelve-day break for its national players, which further exacerbates the problem. Experts warn that overuse and inadequate regeneration lead to more injuries. This not only affects Bavaria, but all clubs that try to keep up in these demanding competitions.

In the coming weeks, 1. FSV Mainz 05 not only has to find its starting eleven, but also develop solutions to keep the players fit and withstand the stresses of the season. The coming games will show whether Henriksen and his team are able to successfully overcome the challenges.