Dźwigała: "You have to be ready when the time comes"
Thursday, 14. March 2024, 10:00 Uhr
Adam Dźwigała made his first start for the club since 3 November in the home game against Hertha BSC last Sunday. The 28-year-old defender came into the side for the injured Eric Smith and played his part with an impressive performance in the thoroughly deserved 2-0 win.
Dźwigała had every reason to be satisfied as he strolled across the Millerntor turf after the defeat of Hertha to take the plaudits of the fan with his teammates. His last appearance in the starting lineup had come in the 2-0 win at Elversberg in early November, a game in which the defensive utility player put in an equally impressive showing. "I've worked hard for this moment," he said after training on Wednesday. "I'm happy to have given my utmost and for us to take all three points."
With Smith absent from the three-man backline against Hertha, Dźwigała demonstrated, not for the first time, that the team can rely on him when needed. "You have to be ready when the time comes because if you aren't, you won't get another chance," he said. And Dźwigała was ready. Along with Manolis Saliakas he closed down the right-hand side of the defence and made sure Fabian Reese, Hertha's attacking trump card, never got going. Not only that, he also won the ball in the run-up to Marcel Hartel's all-important goal to make it 2-0.
Working in tandem with Manolis Saliakas, Adam Dźwigała ensured Hertha's Fabian Reese was largely invisible.
Hertha coach Pal Dárdai was full of praise for the St. Pauli performance after the game. It was not the first time this season that the opposition team had grudgingly had to admit that the Boys in Brown had left them no chance. "It's good when your opponents say that, but we're focusing on what we do and nothing else," said Dźwigała. "It's the only thing we have control over." No reason for euphoria, then, quite the opposite. "We're in a good position at the moment, but we'll stay true to our principles and keep going as we are," he added. "The table doesn't really come it. We have to take each game as it comes and get the points we need. What other teams do doesn't matter."
The next opportunity to add to their tally comes FC Nürnberg on Saturday (13.00 CET). "They're a decent side with lots of good, quick players, and I'm expecting a tough game," warned Dźwigała. One thing that is certain is that the club's longest-serving player will again do everything within his power to make sure he and his teammates have reason to celebrate in front of the travelling fans afterwards.
Photos: Witters
