Whether the match of FC St. Pauli against Sandhausen on Sunday will take place is not yet certain due to the Corona illnesses at the opponent. But it wouldn’t be enough for Leart Paqarada anyway
SV Sandhausen had to announce some bad news on Thursday evening. 18 people in the immediate vicinity of the team have been infected with the corona virus.
A total of twelve players have been affected, and six more have tested positive for PCR in the coaching staff. The DFL has yet to decide whether FC St. Pauli’s match against Sandhausen on Sunday (1.30pm) will take place.
Schultz gives Paqarada a break
Leart Paqarada, however, would have to rest either way against his former club, as St Pauli head coach Timo Schultz revealed at today’s Friday matchday press conference. “We decided to give him the weekend and the international break,” the coach said.
Even before the recent home match against Rostock (4-0), the question mark was thick behind Paqarada’s deployment. A knee irritation had affected the left-back, but Schultz played poker until the end and relied on the 27-year-old, although he always emphasises the balance in his squad. The ex-Sandhäuser impressively provided the reason: He prepared a goal in the English week against Hansa, in the cup thriller in Dresden (3:2 n.V.) it was two direct assists and a penultimate pass, and in the 1-1 draw in Bremen it was again his pass into the depths, which ultimately led to the equaliser.
Precise crosses and opening passes as a weapon
While the development of back-up Lars Ritzka, signed from SC Verl in the summer, has pleased those in charge, Paqarada has emerged in the current calendar year as one of those few professionals in the St.-Pauli squad who are difficult for the coach to replace. “Leart,” says Schultz in no uncertain terms, “is a very important player for us.” Because he has improved rapidly after a difficult start. At Sandhausen, strong standards were a feature of the left-back’s game, but now his precise crosses and opening passes out of play have long been an essential weapon, as has his pronounced forward drive.
“Most recently in Bremen,” praises Schultz, “he was the initiator of almost all our chances. The week before, he’d already put in a hell of a performance in Dresden.” Paqarada is actually expressly excluded from the rotation principle, which was recently applied to Jackson Irvine and Philipp Ziereis, for example. Now, however, he is being forced to take a break.