Karlsruhe (dpa/lsw) - Despite six competitive defeats in a row, coach Christian Eichner from Karlsruher SC demanded a courageous performance from his team in the first half of the season against FC St. Pauli. "I have to see the game as an opportunity. The team will only get out of this situation if they go into this game with a good deal of courage, faith and commitment," said the coach of the second division soccer team in Baden one day before the game Saturday (1 p.m./Sky). Defender Stephan Ambrosius (torn muscle) and midfielder Leon Jensen (shoulder injury) will be absent, as they were in the 2-0 defeat in Kaiserslautern last Tuesday.
Eichner expects "a game on absolute eye level" against Hamburg, who are also in crisis and are only just above the relegation zone. St. Pauli has 16 points going into matchday 17, one less than Karlsruhe. For the first time this season, the KSC is expecting more than 20,000 spectators in the BBBank Wildpark, which is still being renovated.
During the winter break that follows, Eichner wants to work on making his team less predictable. "Then you end up with three central defenders at some point," said the 39-year-old, who is apparently considering using a three-man/five-man instead of the previous four-man defense in the future. Against St. Pauli, however, KSC will probably stick to its proven formation again.
