Mainz Coach Henriksen Laments Human Error in Dortmund Defeat

Mainz coach Bo Henriksen reacts to his team's 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund, citing human error and a lack of intensity.

Mainz coach Bo Henriksen was candid in his assessment of his team's performance after their 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. When asked to explain why Mainz were not at their best in the first half, Henriksen reminded the reporter that his players are human beings, not robots. He jokingly added, “You are also not always the best journalist.”

Mainz had been riding high ahead of the match, but ultimately fell short against a struggling Dortmund side. Despite Dortmund's recent poor form, having lost four of their last six matches and accumulating only 35 points from 26 games (their worst record since 2007), they managed to capitalize on Mainz's subpar performance.

Henriksen expressed his disappointment with Mainz's showing, acknowledging that they did not meet expectations. Dortmund scored twice before the break, which proved to be a decisive blow for the visiting team.

Defeat in Dortmund.

3-1 | FT | #BVBM05 pic.twitter.com/AN709Nsx7M

— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) March 30, 2025

Mainz coach Bo Henriksen struggled to find an explanation for his team's underwhelming performance in the first half of their 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. He highlighted two key areas where Mainz fell short, stating, “We lost 60% of the duels in the air and we didn't play with enough intensity in the man-to-man duels on the ground. I can't explain it, but that's life.”

Henriksen also had a lighthearted exchange with a journalist who asked about Mainz's subpar display. He quipped, “You are also not always the best reporter in the world.” Henriksen emphasized that his players are human beings, not robots, and that they didn't bring their A-game. “We are humans, not robots. We weren't there 100% and just like in life, if you don't do things 100%, then you will get into trouble and that is also what happened today,” he said.

The defeat had significant implications for Mainz, as they were overtaken by Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga standings and dropped to fourth place with 43 points. However, Henriksen's team will have an opportunity to bounce back when they face Holstein Kiel at the MEWA-Arena on Saturday.