--- title: "Marcel Rapp ahead of final pre-season friendly against RC Deportivo at Millerntor; captain appointment next week." sdDatePublished: "2026-07-31T09:04:00Z" source: "https://www.fcstpauli.com/en/news/marcel-rapp-vor-testspiel-deportivo-de-a-coruna" topics: - name: "football" identifier: "medtop:20001065" - name: "sports coaching" identifier: "medtop:20001323" locations: - "Kiel" - "Hamburg" - "Spain" - "United States" --- Marcel Rapp ahead of final pre-season friendly against RC Deportivo at Millerntor; captain appointment next week. FC St. Pauli | Marcel Rapp ahead of the friendly against RC Deportivo Marcel Rapp ahead of the friendly against RC Deportivo Rapp: “It’s now down to details” Next up for the Boys in Brown is the final pre-season warm-up against Deportivo de A Coruña this Saturday (18.30 CET). Head coach Marcel Rapp spoke to the media in the run-up and here are the key lines from that conversation… …pre-season so far: “Pre-season isn't always plain sailing, there are always minor setbacks. The lads know what’s at stake. Physically, we’re improving all the time and we’re looking forward to our first home game. It’s always special to play in front of your own fans. The first game isn’t the finale, though, it’s merely the beginning of a long campaign, and we aim to be as well prepared as possible for the opening day. We know what we stand for and how we want to interact with each other. We have to improve in every area, it’s now down to details such as the quality of our passing or our decision-making, but we’re on the right track and working on those details. Every team we face will present us with different challenges, that will be a constant theme over the next few months.” …moulding a new team : “That’s the lot of most coaches when the squad changes. It’s part and parcel of being relegated. I don’t wish to disrespect anyone who’s left, but it’s good to bring in new blood. We have a new challenge ahead of us and we’re really looking forward to it.” …opponents RC Deportivo : “We’re up against good opposition who’ve just been promoted to the top division in Spain, so we’ll have our work cut out. It’s our final friendly and we’re playing at home. We want to play the kind of football that has people going home feeling proud and we obviously want to win the game if we can. That’s what we train for every day.” …his first home game at the Millerntor: “I’m really looking forward to it, everyone feels the same way, no matter how long they’ve been here. I’ve been here a few times with the visiting team and I know what it’s like, but it’s a different experience altogether depending on whether they’re your fans or those of the opposition. The CSD is happening before the match, so I won’t see much of it, but it’s a great backdrop for the game and the atmosphere is sure to be just as good.” …the fast-approaching start to the league campaign : “I’m actually feeling a bit sad. I always look forward to training because I’m eager to help the lads improve. I enjoy being a coach during pre-season, but it’s fun during the season as well. We’re entering the playing phase now, and although we can still train, everything will revolve around the games from that moment on.” …the extreme heat and its effect on planning : “It does make a difference when you’re a coach here, in Kiel or down south. When I draw up the schedule here, I enter 11.00 and 15.30 as the times and don’t give it a second thought, but if you’re a coach down south, I’m not sure whether you’d put 15.30 down.” …choosing the captain : “Jackson Irvine was captain and has only been back a few days. I haven’t had the chance to get to know him as well as everyone else over the last few weeks. We will appoint a captain, and I’ll do that early next week.” …whether the World Cup returnees will feature against Deportivo : “Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe won’t feature, and we’ll have to see as far as Eric Smith is concerned.” Head coach Marcel Rapp and Eric Smith FC St. Pauli awards Peace Prize – supporting civil society engagement in the United States Engelbracht to leave club at end of season FCSP cooperative acquires majority stake in Millerntor Stadium