Baum: “We’ll take the positive feeling with us”
Home against St. Pauli
First Team
29.01.2026, 15:55
Matchday 20 of the Bundesliga season sees FC St. Pauli make the trip to Augsburg on Saturday (15:30 CET). FCA’s head coach Manuel Baum spoke in his press conference about building on the win against FC Bayern München and how he’s looking forward to a full WWK ARENA.
“It was an amazing victory and it has really boosted our confidence. We’ve been able to refocus quickly on the next game, which we want to win,” said Baum, once again looking back on last weekend’s 2-1 win in Munich.
Debutant Arthur Chaves made an instant impact, scoring a goal: “The energy he brings to the pitch and the way he tackles is impressive,” said Baum. Han-Noah Massengo also found himself on the scoresheet and received high praise from his boss: “One of his greatest strengths is his spatial awareness. He’s got good instincts in the final third and is a really cheerful person – I think that’s a wonderful thing about him.”
Jakić’s fitness still uncertain
The game against St. Pauli proves to be a completely different challenge for FCA. Baum used this week’s training to “listen to the team” and “keep doing what’s been working.” Values such as “courage, determination and cohesion” are, according to Baum, crucial for this game, and he intends to measure his side’s performance by them: “It won’t be easy, everyone needs to be aware of that. We have a home game coming up and we’ll take the positive feeling with us into it. We know we can count on the support we need from the stands,” said Baum.
Regarding the availability of his squad, Baum said: “Kristijan Jakić is a doubt, as are one or two others. We’ll see who is fit to play by Saturday.” After the game against St. Pauli, FCA travel to Mainz, before returning to the WWK ARENA a week later to welcome Heidenheim. Baum is looking ahead to the upcoming challenges with confidence: “Pressure is something you put on yourself. I don’t let it get to me, though.”
