Stand: October 18, 2024, 8:23 p.m
Von: Painted shingle
BVB opens the 7th Bundesliga matchday. FC St. Pauli is traveling to Dortmund with more than 7,500 fans – and a clear plan.
Dortmund – Alexander Blessin is not blinded by past successes. “Nothing is worse than the glory of days gone by,” emphasized St. Pauli’s coach on Wednesday (October 16th) at the press conference before the Bundesliga game on Friday (October 18th) at Borussia Dortmund. Although the Hanseatic League won the last meeting to date in the 2021/22 DFB Cup 2-1, that doesn’t matter for Blessin.
BVB welcomes St. Pauli: coach hopes for shrill whistle concert
For Blessin, the priority is to optimally prepare FC St. Pauli, who are currently in 15th place, for the duel with seventh-placed Dortmund. He focuses on the special atmosphere in Signal Iduna Park, where over 80,000 spectators create a great atmosphere.
“We have to approach the matter with a cool head and a warm heart,” the coach explained the strategy of the Bundesliga newcomer.
St. Pauli wants to hear BVB fans whistle: “Then we played a good game”
The coach knows heated stadium atmospheres well: as a player for VfB Stuttgart, he once competed in the famous “De Kuip” stadium in Feyenoord Rotterdam. “I warmed up for 30 minutes, was insulted and had beer and money thrown at me. I liked that,” Blessin recalled.
Blessin knows that the mood at Signal Iduna Park can change if BVB has difficulties. “Our goal is for the fans to whistle and not clap. Then we played a good game,” said the coach.
BVB against St. Pauli: More than 7,500 guest fans travel to Dortmund
In terms of personnel, St. Pauli has to do without the injured Australian Connor Metcalfe. His compatriot Jackson Irvine is due to return to training after the World Cup qualifiers on Thursday. The team will receive support from more than 7,500 fans who will travel to Dortmund and cheer on the team.
Meanwhile, a wave of illness has overwhelmed BVB. Several players are questionable against St. Pauli, four are definitely out.
DPA/edited by Malte Hupach
