Mainz boss Heidel: RB "far from a big club"

Sports director Christian Heidel of FSV Mainz 05 does not see RB Leipzig as a big club despite their current highs in the Bundesliga. "They are doing a good job but are still a long, long way from being a big club," said Heidel after Mainz 05's 2-0 defeat at home to RB. This can be seen, for example, in the fact that only 600 fans came to Mainz despite Leipzig's strong Bundesliga season so far.

"That has to grow and that takes 50 years. It takes generations. It's not the club's fault," explained Heidel. But RB Leipzig will not be one of the big clubs as we know them for that long.

Heidel: Klopp appointment a good move

The appointment of Jürgen Klopp as "Head of Global Soccer" at Red Bull as of January 1, 2025 is a "move" that is not so bad, said Heidel. "Of course, you can only congratulate those responsible at RB."

Supporters of FSV protested with posters before their club's match against RB against former Mainz coach Klopp's engagement with the Red Bull group. "Klopp: I like people until they disappoint me" and "Are you crazy?" were written on posters.

"There was nothing bad on them," said Heidel. Should Klopp be booed on a future visit to the Mainz stadium, however, Heidel would have a big problem with that. Klopp deserved people to applaud, he said. "Because this club in the way it is today would not exist without Jürgen Klopp."