Marcel Rapp has dismissed the importance of tactical formations. The FC St. Pauli manager insisted after the 1-1 draw at Energie Cottbus that his players know their jobs regardless of the system on the whiteboard.
"System hin oder her. Fundamentally, the lads know what needs to be done." said the 47-year-old. Rapp changed shape multiple times during the Cottbus match, in which St. Pauli played 70 minutes with ten men following Tomoya Ando's red card. The team still battled to a point thanks to Martijn Kaars' 80th-minute equaliser.
Points return insufficient
Rapp admitted the current points tally is not good enough. "It's too few points for the way we play. We've been present in every game from the start." he analysed. After six matchdays, FC St. Pauli sit eighth in the 2. Bundesliga with seven points and a goal difference of 8:8. Their recent form reads one win, two draws and two losses from the last five. This return of just five points from the last five league games is insufficient for the team's ambitions.
Squad flexibility
The squad has had to show flexibility in recent weeks. Eric Smith played a situational role in a back four against Wolfsburg and Cottbus. Up front, the injured Branimir Hrgota was missed against Cottbus, and loanee Gisli Thodarson is also out following a thigh operation. Defender Rony Jansson is not expected back until after the international break. The current injuries list outlines the challenges for the squad.
The players are now off until Monday before training resumes on Tuesday. As preparation for the home game against Karlsruher SC on 10 October, a friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach is scheduled for 3 October at 3:30 pm at the Millerntor. A street festival with DJs will follow on the Südvorplatz until 10 pm. Fourteenth-placed Karlsruhe presents an opportunity to end a run of just one win from the last five league games. KSC travel to Hamburg having taken six points from their six matches so far.
First reported at Bild Sport
