Jonathan Burkardt had played the fewest minutes of all Mainz players – but the chants from the fan block belonged to him. Understandable: The striker’s substitution in the 73rd minute was the emotional highlight of Sunday’s Bundesliga game at TSG Hoffenheim and was celebrated by the more than 2,500 FSV Mainz 05 supporters the moment he entered the pitch. This ended more than a year of suffering with a knee injury, two operations and several setbacks in rehab.
“It’s been such a long road back, I’m just happy,” said the 23-year-old later in the mixed zone. When he was substituted on and during the game, he largely ignored what was going on around him and didn’t even notice the chants. “But afterwards I realized how beautiful it was. That was very emotional.” In front of the fan block, when he heard the “Jonny Burkardt” chants, applauded and thanked the fans and hit his left breast with the flat of his hand, especially when hugging his girlfriend, as he admitted , a few tears also flowed.
“Knew I was ready”
Coach Jan Siewert had already publicly assured him of a place in the squad at the press conference two days earlier, but it was not yet clear whether Burkardt would also be used. The last time he was involved in a game was on November 13th last year. After several minor injuries and absences due to illness, the injury in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt was followed by a break that no one could have imagined how long it would be agonizing for the player and the team . The club announced the striker’s return to training several times, but the date was repeatedly pushed back.
Burkardt did not hide the fact that this was not without doubt. “For a long time, you think about where this is all going to lead,” he said on Sunday. “But it was clear to me that I wanted to give everything and do everything in my power to get back.” Outsiders didn’t know how well he was prepared for this moment. He had worked with rehabilitation coach Axel Busenkell on the pitch for around six weeks to get back into team training and had trained with his colleagues over the past two and a half weeks. “I trained thoroughly during the international break. I knew I was ready.”
In game immediately
Siewert’s premonition – “I had the feeling that Jonny would get a cross pass and then he would score the goal” – only almost came true (“Once it was close to that”), but Burkardt’s comeback became more than just a hint of what measure The captain of the German U-21 European Championship team in 2021 will bring the quality back into the Mainz offensive. The striker initially played in the tenth position, then as a second striker, immediately found his way into the powerful attacking game and had good moves.
“I feel completely free,” he said, free from both pain and thoughts that something could go wrong again. “It’s nice when you no longer have to listen to your body whether it’s a pinch here or there.” Then even longer missions only seem to be a matter of time. Good for the player, good for the team, which is so badly shaken in terms of personnel, who not only had to make do without five of six central defenders in Sinsheim, but also had to do without their most experienced striker, Karim Onisiwo, who will probably also be missing this Sunday (3.30 p.m. in the FAZ). Live ticker for the Bundesliga and DAZN) against SC Freiburg will be missing.
In view of the proportions of the game and the chances of scoring – among other things, Aymen Barkok failed with a penalty when the score was 1:1, Marco Richter also hit the crossbar with two free kicks – the one point seemed very modest. “But the performance gives us confidence for the next games,” said Jonathan Burkardt.
Peter H. Eisenhuth, Mainz Published/Updated: Recommendations: 3 Peter H. Eisenhuth, Mainz Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1 Peter H. Eisenhuth, Mainz Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1
“That was how you would like to see Mainz 05.” And then he, like some of his teammates, stood up for his coach, who is still in office “until further notice,” and his chances of permanent employment with the fifth point in the third Game may have improved though. “Jan brings in positive energy and fire,” Burkardt said of Siewert. “It’s fun to work with him.”
