The number with the opponent's praise really annoys him, Alexander Blessin has already emphasized that several times. This is mainly due to the fact that his FC St. Pauli usually receives respect from his coaching colleagues after narrowly lost games. When it comes to his “home game” on Saturday at VfB Stuttgart (3:20 p.m., live ticker on MOPO.de), everything is a little different.
Because this time the flowers are already there. Sebastian Hoeneß, Blessin's work colleague at RB Leipzig for three seasons, spoke highly of the Hamburg newcomer. “St. “Pauli is probably the strongest opponent in recent weeks,” praised the 42-year-old after his team faced Jahn Regensburg (3-0), Union Berlin (3-2), Young Boys Bern (5-1) and the 1. FC Heidenheim (3:1) had to do. “They have good processes, don't allow much, are challenging to play against and are the strongest team in the league.” The neighborhood club only doesn't get its quality across in the final third.
St. Pauli's opponents are missing numerous regulars
Of course, this is partly due to the injury problem, but things aren't looking much better for the Swabians on Saturday. The national players Jamie Leweling and Deniz Undav will not return until the new year after their torn muscle fibers, captain Atakan Karazor is ill, storm jewel Justin Diehl was recently injured in training, Nikolas Nartey, El Bilal Touré and Dan Axel Zagadou have been in the hospital for a long time. The squad is broad, but with so many absences things are starting to get tight at VfB.
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Which doesn't change the class of Stuttgarters who are still available. “They have a very good mix and individual quality,” says Blessin. “You always have to be careful that you don’t fall into the trap too much when it comes to lock balls. But they also always make deep runs and have a playful variability.” After initial problems, VfB have recently found their way, so the 51-year-old concludes: “It will be a challenge for us and a highlight game in a beautiful stadium .”
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