Nadiem Amiri discusses Mainz, Kaiserslautern and Champions League football | OneFootball

Just prior to his successful return to the German national team, Mainz 05’s Nadiem Amiri sat down for an extended interview with Sport Bild. Get German Football News is pleased to supply an abridged translation of the piece, in which the 28-year-old spoke on a variety of topics.

Understandably enough, Amiri found himself beyond enthused about a number of developments in his career recently. By far the best part of the interview revolved around Amiri’s newfound role of leading the post-match cheers before the FanKurve with his new club.

SPORT BILD: Mr. Amiri, you are on course for the Champions League with Mainz. Would you ever have thought that possible?

Amiri:

“Europa League – yes. Champions League – never! We had some brutal departures in the summer with Brajan Gruda, Leo Barreiro and Sepp van den Berg. In addition to  that, the start to the season wasn’t what we had hoped for.“

You are now in third place. After the 3-1 win against Gladbach, you said that the players who don’t want to go to the Champions League now can stay at home. Pretty feisty!

“What do you mean feisty? Anyone who is doing so well in the table with eight games left and a chance to make history  would be wrong with us if they didn’t want to seize the moment.“

You are known for reaching for a megaphone after the game to celebrate with the fans. Did that just happen?

“I don’t go there and grab it. The fans ask one of us to come [lead the cheers] To say “no” to that would be disrespectful.”

In which stadium would you like to sing the famous [Mainz carnival post match cheer] “Humba Täterä”?

“At the Betze. [Kaiserslautern’s Fritz Walter Stadion] It’s about time for a derby against [fierce regional Pfälzer rivals] Kaiserslautern again.“

We were actually thinking more along the lines of Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium [in the Champions League].

“You can’t hear it there, the fans are too far away. I would need a bigger megaphone for the Bernabéu (laughs).

“But I’ve always wanted to play in that stadium. Real Madrid is my favourite club. Cristiano Ronaldo is my idol.“

Coach Bo Henriksen has also been crucial to your and Mainz’s upturn. What connects you?

“He has a totally pure and honest heart. That’s worth its weight in gold in this business. The energy he brings every day is indescribable.

“How can a person be so positive every day? In training, he’s always relatively reserved. But before the game in the locker room, it’s a blast.“

What do you mean by that?

“He pushes us, talks the whole time, and breathes fire into us. When our music is playing in the dressing room, he dances, jumps around, laughs and air drums.

“The coach really gets us fired up. I’m always a little nervous before games. Otherwise, I can’t perform. When you have a coach as easy-going as Bo, it takes a lot of pressure off. You start to see everything in a positive light and are sure you’re going to win.“

He always gives you some kind of personal message before a game. Can you give us an example?

“I don’t know how he does it, but he always manages to get through to me. He always says something different.

“Before the game against Gladbach, he just smiled at me and said, ‘You know what to do. Or, ‘Set the game, ‘set the rhythm’.

“But they’re not always just motivational sayings; they’re also tactical instructions. I’m surprised that he’s always right.“

He even recognised that you haven’t been getting enough sleep.

“That’s right. With two small children at home, it’s difficult to get enough sleep at home. [Last season], it affected my performance. I was really at my limit.

“Bo called me over during a training session and said, ‘You need help at home.’ I told him: ‘It’s not that easy.’

“When I talked to my wife about it, she said that I should go to the hotel on Thursdays so that I could get more sleep. My mother comes and helps out. It’s amazing what they do.

“I recently had two days off from training and was at home. It was wonderful with the two kids – but also as exhausting as a training camp (laughs).“

You are still in regular contact with your former teammate Florian Wirtz.

“Yes. I texted him straight after his injury and wished him a speedy recovery. I think he’s currently the best player in Germany.“

Has he congratulated you on the season yet?

“Yes, we have already spoken about it. We have always had a good relationship.

When he was 16 and new to Leverkusen, I helped him and often talked to him. He has not forgotten that.”

You have been nominated for the national team again for the first time since 2020. What were you thinking when your cell phone rang and it said “Julian Nagelsmann”?

“I had missed his call at first because I was on the pitch with the team for the morning training session. I then saw his name on the phone in the locker room.  We’ve remained in contact with him since our time together at Hoffenheim.

“Of course, I already suspected why he was calling and called him back straight away.“

What did he tell you on the phone?

“The conversation was actually quite brief. He said a few nice things to me, that I had earned my place in the squad through my performances and that he was looking forward to seeing me again.

“I only became really emotional when I called my parents. My father started crying with joy on the phone, and then I started crying too.“

Who is leaving the club in the summer for more money – you or your teammate Jonathan Burkardt?

“I hope that we both stay here and play internationally. Jonny is currently the best German striker. He’s a lot of fun to play with. We understand each other perfectly.”

Can you promise the fans that you will stay beyond the summer?

“I told my agent to leave me alone until the summer. I want to achieve my objective here first. I don’t know what will happen in the summer.

“I’m not the kind of guy who says he’ll stay at Mainz 05 forever. But the story isn’t finished yet. And it’s not without reason that I extended until 2028 last summer.“

What headline would you like to read at the end of the season?

“I can think of many. My dream headline would be: “Mainz 05 qualify for the Champions League for the first time ever.”

And for you personally?

“Amiri shoots Mainz into the Champions League.”

GGFN | Peter Weis