This defeat could have been the last straw: FSV Mainz 05 are in crisis and their coach is facing the axe.

After the 3-1 defeat at VfB Stuttgart, there could be a change of coach at FSV Mainz 05 next week. The air is getting thinner and thinner for Jan Siewert.

After the start-win against RB Leipzig, not much more came from the Mainz team under Siewert’s leadership. A total of eleven games without a win followed. The Rhine Hessians, in 17th place, are already nine points away from the safety of 15th place. They are also already four points behind 16th place, which would put them in the relegation play-offs. Benjamin Hoffmann, a successful U19 coach who was once employed by Borussia Dortmund, is already in the starting blocks.

It is quite possible that Mainz will also sack Siewert after Bo Svensson. Martin Schmidt, sporting director in Mainz, emphasized after the game: “We will sit down on Monday, analyze and see what the next steps are. It is clear that we cannot continue like this, of course. We need victories. We have to change a few things, that’s obvious. We’ll discuss it in a small group with the coach and look for solutions.”

Siewert coached Rot-Weiss Essen for 34 games in 2015 before being hired as an assistant coach at VfL Bochum. He then spent a season with VfL’s U19 team before moving on to Borussia Dortmund II and Huddersfield Town (England) in the youth sector of 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Asked by Bild whether he is still the right coach for Mainz 05, the 41-year-old from Essen and Bochum responded defiantly: “Basically, we in the coaching team have done everything to ensure that the team is successful in every game. It was extremely difficult for us today. The team has not given up. I am sure that this process in which we are involved will lead to victories. I believe that this victory against Augsburg will come.”

It remains to be seen who will be sitting on the Mainz bench on Matchday 22 for the home game against FC Augsburg (Saturday, February 17, 3:30 p.m.).