On the penultimate matchday, Holstein Kiel and FC St. Pauli can be promoted together from the 2nd Bundesliga. Kiel’s game against third-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf will be crucial.
The big party for FC St. Pauli was canceled – at least for the time being. After the 0-1 defeat in the 111th city derby, the team had to leave their natural fetus biotope around the Reeperbahn to the players and fans of Hamburger SV.
But there is hardly anyone in doubt that the neighborhood’s football community will soon be celebrating its return to the Bundesliga, even after Friday evening with two games still to play. “You can have this moment,” said St. Pauli striker Oladapo Afolayan, looking at the celebrating HSV players and fans. “We have bigger things to focus on.”
The starting signal for the promotion rush should be given next weekend. Not only in St. Pauli, but also on the Kiel Fjord, 100 kilometers away. KSV Holstein regained the top of the table ahead of FC St. Pauli with a 1-0 (0-0) win over relegation candidate SV Wehen Wiesbaden.
Top game in Düsseldorf
If Kiel wins against Fortuna Düsseldorf next Saturday, they and the neighborhood club from Hamburg will be promoted to the Bundesliga at the same time – on the sofa, so to speak. FC St. Pauli’s game on Sunday against bottom-placed VfL Osnabrück would be meaningless and just a stopover on the marathon of celebrations.
The Düsseldorf team is the only team that can still pose a threat to the two northern teams. With two games left, the currently strongest team is five points behind Holstein and four behind FC St. Pauli after their 3-1 win on Friday against 1. FC Nürnberg. Given their successful streak of twelve games without defeat, they are giving up Rhinelanders are self-confident and are still aiming for one of the two direct promotion places. “There’s a lot in it,” said Fortuna’s Friday double goalscorer Vincent Vermeij. “I notice that everyone is fully focused. Two wins will be the best way for us to achieve our goal.”
If that doesn’t work, coach Daniel Thioune’s team will at least have a chance of achieving promotion as third in the table via the detour of relegation. HSV is still speculating on this – although with four points less and a goal difference 13 goals worse than Düsseldorf with little hope left. “We shouldn’t look at it too much,” said Derby goalscorer Robert Glatzel. “We don’t have it in our own hands anymore either. Just approach the next games like the last ones and then we’ll see what’s possible.” Hope would die last, “but that shouldn’t be our main focus now.”
Speculation about Boldt’s future
The derby victory was all that was important for Hamburger SV and its fan base – and the horror scenario of FC St. Pauli being promoted to HSV’s Volksparkstadion was prevented, which made the victory even sweeter. Coach Steffen Baumgart and sports director Jonas Boldt each reacted to the high spirits in their own way. After the well-deserved victory against his unloved neighbor, Baumgart took on his critics, Boldt primarily did his own advertising.
“I have the job here. I like doing it. And everyone else can see me where I’m even more beautiful,” raged the 52-year-old Baumgart at the microphone of the TV channel Sky a few minutes after the final whistle. He knows that he is a good coach, “regardless of whether you are successful or not. I know what I can do. I don’t need anyone from outside.”
Since it has become more likely that the former permanent member will not be promoted again, Baumgart, who was only hired in February, and Boldt, the sports director who has been in office for five years, have found themselves in the middle of speculation. Jörg Schmadtke (60) and Felix Magath (70) are publicly named as possible Boldt successors or bring themselves into play. According to “Bild”, Magath also has a coaching solution ready in former world star Raúl.
“When I look at the last few weeks and experience the support from the people I work with and those around me, then there is only one clear opinion for them. I can’t influence everything else,” said Boldt. A – albeit – weak HSV consolation for missing the Bundesliga return for the sixth time: At least next season, the club cannot be deprived of the unofficial title of city champion from FC St. Pauli.
Source: Stern
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