FC St. Pauli

Timo Schultz on…

...the personnel:  Eric Smith is back in training and thus an option for the squad. Up until the Heidenheim game we'll press on with the lads who are available at the moment."

...the options in central defence and holding midfield: "We're still spoilt for choice in central defence despite the loss of James Lawrence and Philipp Ziereis. Marcel Beifus is a player who wears down strikers simply on account of his size and ruggedness in the challenge and yet is still composed on the ball. Adam Dźwigała, in turn, is more experienced. There are arguments for both players. We're still haven't reached a decision on who will play in defensive midfield. We already know Jackson Irvine is good in that position, but we have alternatives in other players who put in good to very good performances during the course of the season, so it may well be the case that Jackson slots back into the diamond position."

...the threat of suspension hanging over five players: "The players won't alter the way they play football, they'll still keep going into the challenges as before. It's at the back of my mind and it would be unfortunate if we lost Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Guido Burgstaller at the same time, but if it happens, it happens. What we're seeing at the moment, however, is that we're losing a host of players in individual departments but that others are coming in, doing a good job and becoming more than just alternatives."

...the depth of the squad and its importance for the promotion race: "I'm very happy with the composition of the entire squad. We have a great mix in terms of the age structure and lots of options as far as individual positions are concerned. We have some players who can be used in several positions, which is always good for a coach, especially when you lose one or two players in one position or department. It helps that our patterns are very clear and everyone knows what is required in each position."

...opponents Dynamo Dresden and the impact of the change in coach on his preparations: "A new coach always has his own ideas, but a hallmark of Guerino Capretti is that he sticks to a 4-3-3 with one defensive midfielder and two number eights. He did that at Verl and they adopted a similar formation at Bremen recently. We know Dresden well, having already played them twice, and there shouldn't be too many surprises. We won both games and I'd have no objections if we were able to crack Dresden a third time."

...the differing form of the two sides: "They put in a really good performance at Bremen. I expect them to stay up even though they're currently in the relegation play-off place. It's definitely a tough ask for us in that cauldron of noise. Dresden will go all out to get three points but winning the first two meetings give us a positive feeling. We're optimistic we can leave the pitch victorious again. The situation is a bit different this time, though. The teams don't look the same and Dresden have had a change of coach. We start at 0-0 and we're in for another exciting 90 minutes in which we'll have to give it all we've got. If we do that, it'll be a good game and a good performance from us increases the likelihood of us coming away with something."


Photo: Witters