Sports · Football · 9 hrs ago
Mainz coach says Kaishu Sano is below last season’s top form
Japan international Kaishu Sano is having a difficult season with German club Mainz, where he plays in the Bundesliga.
He was substituted for the third time this season in a 3-2 defeat to Werder Bremen, after being taken off only once across 68 league appearances in the previous two seasons.
Reports say he is not at last season’s top level, though all three substitutions this season came late in games.
In the summer, a proposed move to Crystal Palace fell through after the clubs did not agree on a fee; one report says Mainz wanted 60 million euros and rejected a 30 million euro offer.
Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert said expectations for Sano had become exceptionally high because of his earlier performances.
Coach Urs Fischer says Sano knows he is below his best and is working on the problem, while facing what Fischer called headwinds.
Fischer said Sano’s challenge is to show again that he can perform at the highest level.
Mainz coach Urs Fischer said Kaishu Sano is not currently at the top level of form he showed last season.
Sano, a 25-year-old Japan international midfielder, has been substituted three times this season after only once in 68 league appearances over the previous two seasons.
Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert said the standards used to judge Sano are now “incredibly high.”
Reports linked Sano’s current form to a failed summer move to Crystal Palace, but this was presented as a possibility, not a confirmed cause.
Crystal Palace reportedly offered €30 million, while Mainz sought €60 million.
- Who
- Kaishu Sano, Mainz’s 25-year-old Japan international midfielder, and Mainz coach Urs Fischer.
- What
- Fischer said Sano is facing a difficult period and is not at last season’s top form.
- When
- Reports were published on October 26 and 27, 2026; Sano was substituted during a recent Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen.
- Where
- Mainz, in Germany’s Bundesliga.
- Why
- Fischer cited several factors and said Sano was dealing with headwinds. Reports suggested the failed summer transfer may have affected his confidence, but did not establish this as the cause.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Crystal Palace reportedly offered €30 million for Sano, while Mainz sought €60 million, and the transfer did not happen.
Sano started against Werder Bremen, but Mainz lost 3-2 and he was substituted late in the match.
Reports said Sano had been substituted three times this season and was not at last season’s top form.
- Age
- 25
- Club
- Mainz
- Previous two seasons
- 68 league appearances and one substitution
- This season
- Three substitutions, all late in matches
- Crystal Palace offer
- €30 million
- Mainz asking price
- €60 million
3 sources
What people are saying
Many factors are involved. He is currently facing some headwinds.
Reproducing that level is the true challenge, and that is what defines a truly great player.
The standards by which Kaishu is judged are now incredibly high.