FC St. Pauli is kicking off the new season with a near-complete overhaul of its squad and coaching staff. Left-back Louis Oppie sees the changes as a chance – and the early pre-season results back him up. The Kiez club won all three of its friendlies so far, most recently 4:1 at Babelsberg. Yet the biggest shifts are still coming: Marcel Rapp’s side must lock in new patterns while key players remain on World Cup break. As of now, St. Pauli sits 18th in the Bundesliga with 26 points from 34 games (6 wins, 8 draws, 20 losses), and has lost its last five matches in a row (LLLLD).

What the squad overhaul means on the pitch

Oppie, 24, stresses the upside of the upheaval. „It’s already a bit different from last year“, he says after the 4:1 win in Babelsberg. Every coach except goalkeeper trainer Peter Nemeth is new, several starters have left, and others are still on World Cup leave. But Oppie cautions against reading too much into it: „It makes a difference – but not necessarily a bad one.“ The squad has taken the changes in stride, even if the automation isn’t fully baked in yet.

Why pre-season is already paying off

The three wins against Regionalliga and Oberliga sides may lack top-tier quality, but for Oppie the focus is elsewhere: „Above all, it’s about intensity, locking in the routines.“ The new patterns under coach Marcel Rapp play to Oppie’s strengths. Much of the game runs through the wings, where quick switches and overloads can stretch opponents. „When you overload one side, it’s hard to shut down“, he notes – a clear defensive asset.

Where St. Pauli still needs to grow

Despite the early wins, Oppie stays grounded. „How we defend, how we press – the whole package isn’t there yet“, he admits. The pre-season is barely two weeks old, and defensive stability remains a work in progress. Still, the belief in a fresh start is real: „A new season is always a good time to start things over.“ Especially on issues that lagged last term, the squad wants to „squeeze out a few extra percentage points.“

Next steps: The push back up the table

With just 26 points from 34 games and 63 points behind leaders Bayern München, the pressure on St. Pauli is huge. The next fixtures loom, but the pre-season has offered hope. Marcel Rapp is banking on quick wing play and high intensity – exactly what Oppie and his teammates need to close the gaps. The next competitive outing comes on 10 October 2026 at home to Karlsruher SC. Until then, the side must cement the new routines and shore up the defense.