Despite a significant European achievement on Monday evening, Mainz 05 manager Urs Fischer maintained his characteristic cautious approach during his pre-match press conference on Friday. The 60-year-old reiterated that his team is still involved in the Bundesliga relegation battle. With 33 points entering the 29th matchday of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, Mainz requires at least one more victory or two draws to reach the crucial 35-point safety mark.
On Sunday, Mainz faces SC Freiburg, another German team with recent European success. It’s possible that Fischer’s squad might not secure any points against the in-form Breisgauer. In a recent interview with Kicker Magazine, Fischer emphasized that his team was not yet safe from relegation. He stood by this assessment even after Mainz defeated Champions League contenders Hoffenheim last weekend, earning three valuable points.
Urs Fischer on Mainz’s Mentality
“I am far from that opinion,” Fischer stated when asked if his Rheinhessen team could tentatively celebrate safety. “To look that far ahead and give the players that impression would simply be wrong. I stand by what I said last week. We are still [arithmetically] in the mix, and it’s not good enough yet. Sure, the situation has improved slightly, but we are still not out of the woods.
“Unfortunately, there is no time to celebrate yet,” Fischer commented, looking ahead to their upcoming opponent. “We need to focus on sorting out our mentality properly. We are facing a very patient, composed, and mature team. Dreams are permitted, but they have a solid limit.”
