FC St. Pauli

"It  was awesome when I took up my position in goal and saw the steep stand full of fans opposite me," said Vasilj, looking back at the game at FC Kaiserslautern. Awesome may not be the first word that comes to mind when describing the performance in the 2-1 opening-day win, though it was certainly ruthless and clinical. The Bosnia custodian gave a good account of himself on his first appearance at the Betze, pulling off a fine diving save in the 83rd minute to deny Lautern striker Ragnar Ache and thus secure the three points. "It was a good all-round performance in the end because Lautern are not an easy team play against. We worked hard in pre-season to kick off the campaign with a win and I'm very happy we did that," he added.

Vasilj missed both the season opener and the trip to Kaiserslautern last term due to a broken finger that kept him out of action until the 2-2 draw at Greuther Fürth in Round 7. He went on to keep an impressive 12 clean sheets in his 28 appearances, a figure bettered only by Kevin Müller of promoted side FC Heidenheim (15). "It wasn't easy having to watch from the sidelines, but I knew the work would pay off and I'd be back eventually,” Vasilj said. “That's why I'm really enjoying being involved right from the start."

The Bosnian has made a step-up in footballing terms, not least because of the methods and processes he practises and repeats with goalkeeper coach Marco Knoop in training. And the relationship with his teammates, especially fellow shotstoppers Sascha Burchert and Sören Ahlers, has never been better. "The togetherness in the squad is what sets us apart,” he said. “Everyone helps everybody else. We all support each other – and that includes the goalkeepers. We're definitely a bit crazy in that respect (he laughs). We're like one big family, which is why it's so much fun. You see it in the way we want to play football collectively, not only when we press the ball but also in the compact way we play from back to front. My teammates trust me, and I trust them.”

Getting the forward effectively will be crucial in the opening home game of the 2023/24 season, when Fortuna Düsseldorf, who finished fourth last term, leave their calling card at the Millerntor. Daniel Thioune's team also kicked off the campaign with a win, 1-0 against Hertha BSC, with the all-important goal coming from an old acquaintance in Daniel Ginczek. "I love the challenge. Düsseldorf have lots of other good players in their ranks as well. Ginczek stands out with his presence in the penalty area, of course – he can score from anywhere – but he’s exactly the kind of player I love to play against. In the end, it's the little things and who wants it more that will settle it," he concluded. And what the majority of the 29,000 people inside the Millerntor will definitely want most of all is for St. Pauli to take all three points.

Photos: FC St. Pauli