FSV Mainz 05 vs Bayern Munich - Niko Kovac: All is well at Bayern Munich
Posted Saturday, October 27, 2018 by PA
Niko Kovac insists there is harmony at Bayern Munich as the club attempt to continue their recent resurgence.
Coach Kovac came under pressure earlier this month after suffering successive Bundesliga defeats.
Fourth-placed Bayern, who travel to Mainz on Saturday, won 3-1 at Wolfsburg last weekend and followed up that result with a Champions League success over AEK Athens.
“The relationship between everyone here and the atmosphere in recent weeks has been very good,” Kovac said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“Success on the pitch is obviously important, so the last two wins have done us some good.
“I see how ready my team are to fight for 90 minutes again tomorrow.
“I hope the match at Mainz gives us a further boost and we can get back to where we were.”
Champions Bayern, who are four points behind unbeaten leaders Borussia Dortmund, will be without suspended forward Arjen Robben this weekend.
The Dutchman serves a ban after being sent off at Wolfsburg.
Franck Ribery will be available, however, after overcoming a back injury, while Serge Gnabry is also set to feature following his man-of-the-match performance in Athens.
Gnabry feels the mood in the Bayern camp has improved in recent weeks but was warned his team-mates against complacency.
“We’ve regained confidence from the two wins,” said the winger.
“It’s not always been that easy for Bayern at Mainz in the past. We’re going there in good spirits but we must not underestimate Mainz.”
Hosts Mainz go into the game on the back of a five-match winless streak without scoring.
Coach Sandro Schwarz accepts his 12th-placed team have a tough task on their hands to end the poor run of form.
“For us, the challenge of producing a top performance from our role as underdogs is a really enticing one,” he told Bayern’s website.
“We’ll need to be at our best, in terms of our play, tactics and work rate.
“Then you need things to go for you on the day and of course you also have to prevent Bayern from having a good day.”
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