FC St. Pauli Ready for 2. Bundesliga Season, Coach Rapp Confident

Following six weeks of preparation, FC St. Pauli's new head coach Marcel Rapp declared the team ready for the 2. Bundesliga season. "We are now at a level physically, but also in the way we want to play football, that it can start for points," Rapp stated at a press conference ahead of the season opener.

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We are now at a level physically, but also in the way we want to play football, that it can start for points.

Rapp, who replaced Alexander Blessin, is hesitant to discuss an immediate return to the Bundesliga. Instead, he aligns with the assessments of club president Oke Göttlich and sporting director Andreas Bornemann, who aim for the club to rank among the top 25 teams in German football. This objective translates to securing at least seventh place in the 2. Bundesliga.

"I believe if we operate within that framework and set that as our goal, then it is realistic," Rapp commented, acknowledging the potential difficulties relegated teams often face in the second division. He drew on his experience with Holstein Kiel, which was relegated from the Bundesliga and narrowly avoided a further drop to the third tier in the subsequent season.

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I believe if we operate within that framework and set that as our goal, then it is realistic.

Despite the inherent unpredictability of football, Rapp expressed confidence in the team's current trajectory. "I believe the direction we have taken is right," he said, citing the positive spirit, team morale, and training quality. The team also announced the signing of Icelandic midfielder Gisli Thordarson, who could potentially debut in the opening match against SpVgg Greuther Fürth.

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I believe the direction we have taken is right.