The next tough test awaits Vincent Kompany’s FC Bayern on Saturday against the in-form 1. FSV Mainz 05. Ex-Mainz and FCB player Jan Kirchhoff commented on the BL hit and both coaches in the ran interview.
The interview was conducted by Philipp Kessler
On Saturday (from 3:30 p.m. in the live ticker on ran.de) Mainz 05 welcomes FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Jan Kirchhoff played for both clubs. He once made his breakthrough with the 05ers under Thomas Tuchel, and in 2013 the former defensive specialist moved to the German record champions, who were then coached by Pep Guardiola, on a free transfer.
Kirchhoff is now a coach himself and is causing a sensation with the Mainz U19. In an interview with ran the 34-year-old talks about the duel between his two former clubs and his way of working as a coach.
ran: Mainz against Bayern – who are you keeping your fingers crossed for, Mr. Kirchhoff?
Jan Kirchhoff: “Sure, the Mainz team. I no longer have any connection to Bayern, apart from the fact that I’m an ex-player. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we can collect more points in order to stay in the league as quickly as possible.”
ran: In the DFB Cup, Mainz lost 4-0 against Munich on October 30th. How can the 05ers do better this time?
Kirchhoff: “Bo Henriksen recently said at a press conference that our team is different now. I have the feeling that this is a team that is full of self-confidence. I’m confident that it will be a closer game. It will be It’s all about defending well and putting more pressure on the ball to pose problems for Bayern. Nevertheless, we all know that it will be a difficult game, but I think it’s a good phase right now to be able to beat the best team in the league.”
ran: Can this risky and high level of defense by FC Bayern be an opportunity for Mainz?
Kirchhoff: “When you win a one-on-one duel at the top line, you always open up space. We have our strengths in pressing and transition play. That’s how you get counter-attack opportunities and the resulting scoring chances.”
ran: FC Bayern is currently missing numerous top stars, including goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and striker Harry Kane. An advantage for Mainz?
Kirchhoff: “Of course it’s an advantage when good players are missing. If you turn the whole thing around and Johnny Burkardt were to be out, then it would also be a weakening for our team. And that’s how it is with Bayern too. You can’t have certain players :1. But Bayern have a strong squad, even if Kane or Neuer are missing, it will be a very difficult task.”
ran: Let’s come to the coaching bench: What impression does Bayern coach Vincent Kompany make on you?
Kirchhoff: “From an external perspective, it’s a great one. From a coaching perspective, I’m impressed with how he managed to bring new energy into the club, inspire everyone with his style of play and wake up the club a bit. You can also draw parallels to Bo in Mainz. He achieved something similar. You can see that when a team is enthusiastic about a coach and the way they play football, how much potential can be unlocked in a very short time.”
ran: Bo Henriksen took over Mainz in February 2024 in 17th place in the table and managed to stay in the league. The club is currently fifth in the Bundesliga. What sets him apart?
Kirchhoff: “First of all, energy is the right word for him. It’s great to see how much self-confidence he has instilled in the team in a very short time. But not just the team, but the entire club. Mainz’s courage and belief in being able to beat anyone, is back. It’s nice to watch the players reach their full potential and push their performance limits.”
ran: Is it just a matter of your head?
Kirchhoff: “There are many factors. First of all, you have to believe that more is possible. Then it’s also a question of content: which style of play you choose to fully exploit your potential. When it all comes together, you have the feeling that you are in the flow and it works. You can build on that and make it normal. I just have the feeling that it’s working for us and that’s why the professionals are performing at their best.”
ran: You also took the coaching route. Your Mainz U19 is third in preliminary group D. How satisfied are you with your team so far and with yourself as a coach?
Kirchhoff: “I have the feeling that I’m learning an incredible amount in a very short space of time. The assessment of whether I’m doing well has to come from the players. I’m here for them. It’s also about creating room for development and a culture for the players , in which everyone can grow and get better. We are also satisfied with the results, we are very happy that we qualified for the A league. We managed to reach our performance limits in most games and continue to do so to move up. We are in good spirits. that we are on the right track.”
ran: During your time as a young professional in Mainz, you were influenced by Thomas Tuchel, and you played twelve games for FC Bayern under Pep Guardiola. What qualities did you pick up from both world-class coaches?
Kirchhoff: “I’m neither of them, I’m myself and I think it’s important to know what values you stand for, how you want to train and how you want to deal with the players. Of course there are things that I took with me. Both coaches are incredibly good at finding solutions in the game and in their team leadership. They manage to inspire players to become better and pay attention to details. They make sure to always set the highest possible standards for themselves and personalize them in every training session. Of course that helps me too As a coach, I know what it feels like and what it looks like. But I don’t want to copy anything, I want to find my own way.”
ran: The FC Bayern campus managers also find you very exciting as a coach. Would a job with Munich’s young talent be exciting?
Kirchhoff: “It’s not interesting right now because I’m in the right place in Mainz. I also have a long-term contract and don’t plan on going anywhere else anytime soon. I’m doing well to be in the here and now, to continue to develop and everything every day to do the best job possible.”
ran: What big goals do you have as a coach?
Kirchhoff: “Above all, I want to experience satisfaction. I’m incredibly satisfied with what I’m doing right now. What’s important to me is finding satisfaction in the job over the next ten years or longer, at the highest possible level. I can imagine doing just as well “To be a U19 coach all my life, as I can imagine working in the senior sector, remains to be seen.”
Swiss
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