Mainz boss Martin Schmidt has played down reports linking him with a move to fellow Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen to replace under-fire boss Roger Schmidt.
The season hasn't been the best one in recent times for Die Werkself, who are currently as low as ninth in the Bundesliga charts and are in danger of missing out on European spot for the first time after their fifth-placed finish in the 2011-12 campaign. Time in the #Champions League too could well be of the essence, as will lock horns with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid next week.
While, Roger Schmidt's position at the club has come under some scrutiny considering how the ongoing season is panning out, Mainz boss Martin Schmidt has made it clear that he hasn't been in contact with the BayArena based club.
Ahead of Mainz's home game against Alexander Nouri's Werder Bremen, Schmidt told reporters in a press-conference that he hasn't been in any contact with Bayer :
"I can guarantee you that there is nothing.
"I think it's showing no respect, also to Mainz, to publish something like that. I've got 18 months left on my contract, and I am happy with the players and people here.
A day ago, Leverkusen sporting director and German footballing icon Rudi Voller German news agency DPA that the rumors surrounding Die Werkself looking for a replacement for Roger Schmidt were nothing but 'nonsense'.
Last month, Leverkusen CEO Michael Schade had confirmed that Roger Schmidt's future is "not up for discussion", but admitted that the performances in recent times have been 'bad'.
Despite the absence of a proper playing career, Martin Schmidt has become one of the best managers in the German first division and was appointed as the Mainz back in 2015, before which he had managed the Mainz reserves outfit for around five years. Last season saw the club finish as high as sixth in the Bundesliga, much to the surprise of many.
Die Nullfunfer are currently 12th in the table, but are only four points adrift of eighth placed Freiburg. A win over Werder Bremen at the weekend could help them open up a big gap between the sides near the relegation zone and themselves.
