Personnel changes, bumpy preparation, absences – FC St. Pauli started the season with a few question marks. But the start against 1. FC Nürnberg was successful. Also thanks to the new captains.
Successful start: St. Pauli celebrates after Jackson Irvine made it 1-0.
IMAGO/KBS-Picture
With three goals in a furious 15 minutes, St. Pauli set the course for victory on Saturday. The teamwork between the two players, whom coach Timo Schultz had designated as “equal” captains on Friday, ensured the first goal: After a free-kick cross from Leart Paqarada, Jackson Irvine exemplary headed into the far corner to take the lead.
“I wouldn’t have thought that Jackson would head it so well. It looked very different in training,” Paqarada joked after the 3-2 win against FCN, in which he led the brown and whites onto the field with the captain’s armband would have. “Jackson and I discussed it,” explained the left-back. “Actually, it doesn’t matter which of us wears the bandage around our arm. We both want to take responsibility – with or without a bandage.”
Actually, it doesn’t matter which of us wears the bandage around the arm. We both want to take responsibility – with or without a bandage.
Leart Paqarada on sharing the captaincy with Jackson Irvine
After the preparatory work to make it 1-0, Paqarada himself increased from the penalty spot before Lukas Daschner made it 3-0 at the break. “The boys did really well,” said Schultz. “Nuremberg had phases in the game that we had to get through. In the first half we managed to keep a clean sheet. That was extremely important for us.”
Schultz warns: “It could have gone the other way”
Because then there were “also moments that fail for you,” said St. Pauli’s coach and also meant the penalty, “which you can certainly give, but don’t have to”. Schultz’ conclusion: “You shouldn’t overrate a game, it could have gone the other way.”
Paqarada saw it that way too: “After a win, everything is not always nice and good, we still have room for improvement in some things,” said the 27-year-old, also with regard to the two goals conceded after the break, but was “positively surprised , how good it was in our processes”.
Until the away game in Hanover next Saturday (8.30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker), Paqarada and Co. have time to continue working on it. Then who wears the bandage? “Today I was the captain, next game it might be Jackson. Or me again. We’ll see.”