Former German international Christoph Kramer has humorously noted his potential role in the challenges facing FC St. Pauli as they prepare to face powerhouse FC Bayern Munich. During the Copa TS podcast, Kramer expressed remorse for the club’s unfortunate streak of defeats following his comment that St. Pauli would be competing for European football. His words came right after the team started the season strongly, but they have since suffered eight consecutive losses.
As St. Pauli heads into this challenging matchup against Bayern, President Oke Göttlich emphasized that the team would do everything in their power to avoid a catastrophic defeat. He reflected on the immense challenge of playing in Munich, stating, “No team – including us – will win easily in Munich.” Head coach Alexander Blessin echoed these sentiments, suggesting that while his team must face the formidable challenge ahead, fear should not be part of their mindset.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich is coming off a disappointing 1-3 defeat against Arsenal in the Champions League, but the mood remains calm as they prepare for St. Pauli. Bayern’s director of sport, Christoph Freund, noted the team’s focus and determination hasn’t wavered despite the recent loss. He expressed confidence in the players’ hunger for success, which might pose a daunting task for St. Pauli as they enter the game.
In terms of team selection, Bayern made minor rotations, including bringing in fresh faces like Min-Jae Kim and Raphael Guerreiro, while resting some of their regulars. Conversely, St. Pauli made only one surprising change, introducing Lars Ritzka into the lineup, who had previously scored against Bayern last season.
As St. Pauli approaches this match, the hope remains alive that they can turn their fortunes around and emerge stronger despite the challenges ahead.