FC St. Pauli

Head coach Fabian Hürzeler: “It was a very good, very intensive second-division game. We started well and did what we set out to do, especially in the first 20 minutes. We simply played football, kept switching the play and could have taken the lead with the chances for Marcel Hartel and Connor Metcalfe. After that, we made a simple mistake in the build-up and Magdeburg switched the play very well. We lost our way and made too many simple errors. Magdeburg deservedly took the lead in that phase of the game. At half-time, we set out to play with conviction and keep going because it wasn’t all bad. Apart from one chance, we gave little away and played our way into the final third well. Eventually, we got our reward with the second goal and showed morale. I’d like to wish Magdeburg every success this season.”

Leart Paqarada: “We were superb in the first 20 minutes but then fell away. Nevertheless, we were confident and felt good going into the second half. We knew a goal here can change everything and used the momentum to take all three points back to Hamburg. My pass into the middle that led to the opening goal was a sickener, of course. I’m a player who takes lots of risks and I know that can lead to the odd mistake or two, but I’m at an age where it doesn’t bother me too much during the game. In exchange, set pieces can be very effective and so it’s great it went the way it did. Not every team will come from behind on this ground and that shows the character this team has. It’s going well for us at the moment.”

Marcel Hartel: “I collided with Herbert Bockhorn and cut my head. I may have been a bit dazed when I played the pass (he laughs). We’re on a roll. We started very well in the first 15 minutes but then lost our way and allowed Magdeburg back into it with some simple mistakes. In the second half we set out to carry on the way we started the first and did that very well. We had much the better chances and deserved to turn it round in the end.”

Betim Fazliji: “We showed good mentality. Often games like these come down to desire and we had that today. That’s the way it should be. Magdeburg are a super team with outstanding individuals. They’re difficult to play against, especially at home. We were much braver in the second half. We got forward more, were cheekier on the ball and deservedly got the second goal in my view. When Maurides came on, we had a second target man up front who lays the ball off brilliantly and is very physical. He demonstrated the strengths he has on the pitch superbly today. Nikola made two outstanding saves as well and kept us in the game. The mini run of victories obviously gives us confidence but we’re taking each game as it comes. We want to develop a winning mentality, keep going flat out and try to be successful.”

Christian Titz (Magdeburg head coach): “First of all, congratulations on the away win. The first 20 minutes drifted a bit but then we took the lead and should have had it won after 50 minutes with two good chances. We just failed to put the game to bed. We said before the game that St. Pauli had quality. We conceded the first from a corner, but I’m more annoyed by the second, where we could have launched a counterattack but lost possession and the two centre-backs pushed out and left a gap. It’s tough then, of course. It was a game between two evenly matched sides and St. Pauli had their chances as well, but we failed to turn the game in our favour.”

Photos: FC St. Pauli