St Pauli boss Blessin eyes result at Dortmund ahead of BVB clash | OneFootball

FC St. Pauli is getting off to a strong start. To kick off the new Bundesliga season, the Kiezkicker will host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday (August 23, 6:30 PM). The following matchday will be even more exciting, as the city derby against Hamburger SV is on the schedule.

Last season, the team from Millerntor surprised many experts. St. Pauli was considered one of the hottest candidates for relegation. Their successful coach Fabian Hürzeler (32) fell for the charms of the English Premier League and switched to Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, his successor Alexander Blessin (52), who came from Union Saint-Gilloise, prescribed a tight defensive concept for the Boys in Brown. With the second-best defense, but also the worst offense, he led the outsider to 14th place and thus to staying in the league.

Borussia Dortmund achieved two wins against the Hamburg team in the 2024/25 season. In Dortmund, they won 2-1, and at Millerntor 2-0. For Blessin, after two defeats against the Black and Yellows, it's clear: Now his team is "simply ready". And further: "Of course, our intention is to get something against Dortmund as well." “What more could you want?” On Thursday, he took a stance at the press conference before the duel with Borussia. He's looking forward to a "great" evening, says the St. Pauli coach, "with the lights, a full stadium. All in all, many points where I really feel like getting into the game. With a notable opponent." His summary: "What more could you want?" Unlike last season, this time a point win is expected. "We want to go in without fear and of course want to get something at Millerntor," emphasizes Blessin. So the BVB may be "packed with quality", but "we have to hold our own as a unit in our way". As in the previous year, St. Pauli will likely rely on a solid defense and counter-pressing. "We have to wait for spaces with good ball wins," explains the football coach his tactic. However, the task is made more difficult by the short-term absence of central defender David Nemeth (24), who injured himself in the adductor area during Wednesday's training. Despite the personnel problems, Blessin is counting on his team. "My boys are very focused and willing to deliver what we've worked on," announces the 52-year-old.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.