Overview
- Coach Horst Steffen declined to guarantee Victor Boniface a start at Mainz 05, saying he does not follow a “never change a winning team” approach.
- Steffen described Boniface’s training week as normal with no major change in condition, calling him a clear candidate despite not being at peak fitness.
- Boniface impressed in his first Werder start in the 1-0 win over Union Berlin, logging 84 minutes and adding a physical target option up front.
- Teammates, including Marco Grüll, praised Boniface’s hold-up play and movement, while Steffen underscored that the lineup will be tailored to how Bremen want to attack Mainz.
- Squad update: Isaac Schmidt returns to the matchday group after a foot issue, and Niklas Stark is back but viewed as an option from the bench.