Champions League starter Bayer Leverkusen stops the descent in the Bundesliga. With a brace, Jeremie Frimpong paved the way for the first win of the season at FSV Mainz 05.
After the final whistle, Gerardo Seoane looked more grim than relieved and delighted. “We managed to show a different face, to bring different energy to the pitch,” said the Swiss head coach from Bayer Leverkusen after the 3-0 (3-0) win at FSV Mainz 05.
“We are particularly happy about the three points and that we can increase our self-confidence again thanks to the positive result and look to the future with more optimism.” Seoane’s reluctant joy at winning the first competitive game of the season after the cup defeat at third division club Elversberg and three defeats in the Bundesliga may have been due to the fact that Mainz brought it down 3-0 themselves.
FSV striker Jonathan Burkardt was involved in the opening goal, but Exequiel Palacios (29th minute) was credited with it. After that, Jeremie Frimpong (39’/41′) used two blunders in the Mainz defense and paved the way to success with a brace.
“One win is not enough”
“You have to work for such luck first,” said Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, who kept his team on course for victory with brilliant saves and was lucky when Aarón hit the crossbar (56th). “It wasn’t perfect in terms of football, but you could tell that another team was on the pitch.” It wasn’t a turning point, but a start, said the keeper. “We at least got a feeling for what is required in a Bundesliga game,” said the 32-year-old Finn.
Even Simon Rolfes did not fall into euphoria after the end of the negative series. “The win is good, even if the first win was a bit dirty,” said the sporting director and successor to Rudi Völler. He doesn’t know whether this victory will bring a boost to the previously unbeaten Mainzers: “It’s not enough to win, it will be a hard way back.”
“We need points in the Bundesliga”
After the injuries to Amine Adli and Karim Bellarabi, reinforcements for the offensive flank and also for the not always sovereign defense cannot be ruled out. “We’re still trying to do something up front,” said Rolfes. Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is also under discussion. “There is always a good exchange with Chelsea FC,” he answered vaguely about a possible engagement. Rolfes said: “There are a lot of rumors that aren’t true.”
On the other hand, it is true that in Piero Hincapie and Mitchel Bakker – both yellow and red – two left-backs will be missing in the next Bundesliga game against SC Freiburg in a week. On the other hand, they can play again in the first group game of the Champions League at Club Brugge on September 7th. Despite his success, Rolfes is not yet thinking about the premier class. “We need points in the Bundesliga. We got the first points, but we still need more,” he emphasized.
Source: Stern
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