Mainz Are The Real Thing Under Thomas Tuchels Guidance

Thomas Tuchel Has Proven Himself At The Top Level Already With Mainz.

Mainz have opened this new season in fantastic form, and have won all six of their first six Bundesliga matches. Manager Thomas Tuchel has absolutely no previous experience at the top level, and is one of the youngest managers in Europe, nevermind just Germany. Despite that, his enthusiasm has lifted Mainz to the top of the Bundesliga, and early signs show that his side may be capable of challenging for a European spot this season.

The Mainz squad boasts virtually no superstar players or household names, and many will worry that the side have no single player who can turn a game on its head in the blink of an eye if need be, a player who Thomas Tuchel can rely on to lift the side and take a game by the scruff of the neck and win it. This isnt necessarily true. While Mainz dont have one of those players, like Wolfsburg have in Diego, like Hamburg have in Ruud van Nistelrooy, like Werder Bremen have in Marko marin, Mainz do have a wealth of players who collectively can make a huge difference. Theyve demonstrated that this season in some of the big results theyve already managed to pull off.

There are two results that, for me, confirm Mainz as a genuine European threat this season. First, their 34 away win to Wolfsburg. Steve McClarens side were coming off an opening day loss, and a home game versus Mainz looked like just the right match to put Wolfsburg back on track. Summer signing Diego and Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko looked like they had put the game out of reach by half-time as Wolfsburg head into the break with a 31 scoreline, but Thomas Tuchel instilled a newfound belief and determination in his side that clearly showed after the break. That, and Wolfsburg had clearly let complacency creep into the squad. They never expected w! hat was going to happen next. Mainz exploded; second-half goals from Elkin Soto, Andre Schuerrle and Adam Szalai stole a fantastic three points for Mainz in the most dramatic fashion.

Tuchels young side played with a new swagger and a new confidence after that incredible win. They beat Kaiserslautern 21, Werder Bremen 02, and Koln 20. Then, just as Mainzs form had really peaked, they found themselves having to play against Bayern Munich. The champions. Bayern Munich boast a squad filled with international superstars, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose, Mark van Bommel, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller and others. Thomas Tuchels side could have given in to the hype and the glamour of the side they were playing. They could have been overrun by their monstrous opponents. They could have let their nerves get to them, and they could have panicked. But they didnt. They stood strong and faced their opponents with intensity and with the desire to win. They attacked a team that, on paper, is one of the very best sides in Europe. They forced errors from their opponents, and they made them look average. Thomas Tuchels enthusiasm and passion had certainly been spread throughout the squad, and his side defeated the champions of the league on their own patch.

Thomas Tuchel will need to be wary that his side dont let their impressive form go to their heads. While they have been fantastic, and they have deserved every single one of their six wins, they must not get ahead of themselves. Mainz have a squad, under Tuchel, that is capable of securing a European berth this season. As long as they remain consistent and continue to play with the kind of energy and determination that they have been, they can continue their success.

Eventually, this Mainz side will lose. Its inevitable. Tuchel will know that, but it is how his players deal with defeat that will make them or break them. Youve got to beat the best to be the best. Its true in all walks of life, and especially in football. And, so far, Mainz have! been do ing just that.

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