American James Sands carves his own path in St. Pauli derby win: ‘I worked hard for nights like this’

Hamburg – The first Hamburg derby in the Bundesliga in between Hamburger SV And St. Pauli Since 2011 there was an affair to remember. St. Pauli, who won the last in 2011, went to the HSV house, the Voksparkstadion, and left with a 2-0 win. And the final score actually underlines it for a St. Pauli side that was not finished on their side on Friday. The visitors surpassed their hosts 17 to 5 and won the expected target fight 1.44 to 0.35. No matter how you look at it, it was a dominant version and an American, James Sands. was central to the action.

Move from New York City FC To St. Pauli on loan in January, Sands took a risk of becoming a member of a club fighting a Bundesliga -degradation struggle and only ended seven performances before an injury reached his season discount. But St. Pauli saw enough in Sands to turn the move into a permanent one, and now he is flourishing in his second experience with European football after an enchantment with Rangers In the Scottish premiership. With a full preseason and being injury free, this season feels like a new start, and it always helps that the Bundesliga club has settled with two wins in their first two games of the season.

“It’s amazing, the injury was really difficult for me. It took a long time to come back, but I had good people around me and I worked hard for this kind of nights,” Sands said. “So I’m glad it could go our way. I just want to keep putting together good performance.”

His German improves, but the coaching staff also takes the time to explain things in English, which shows the care that the club has for their players. It is somewhere that Sands feels comfortable to be themselves, and that is shown in his growth as a player. On Friday he spent the game driving up the field to break out the game and impose himself in what was a huge evening for his club. Winning five of his six tackles, getting a interception and almost scoring a goal, Sands did a bit of everything for St. Pauli. During his career, Sands has surfaced everywhere in the rear line or deeper in midfield positions, but despite the six on his back, he was a real box-to-box midfielder.

Sands is no stranger to massive competitions, which had been involved in the old company during his time, so it was not phased by the fluctuating atmosphere in the Vokpark Stadium, the noise could exclude, except when it came from the more than 5,000 traveling St. Pauli fans who celebrate goals and close their team after a victory.

“It’s certain Nice To win one [these derby matches]. I have been on the wrong side of a few, and those are the worst feelings, so it’s nice to win, “Sands said.”[The Old Firm] Is quite hostile, there is a lot of history in it, but both are some of the best in the world. Vs vs Mexico, I have been part of that. It is special if you play in these games. “

These types of games are something that only competitions steeped in history, such as the Bundesliga, can offer and it is certainly a change of pace that only helps to challenge players such as Sands.

“The Bundesliga has challenged me in the ways you want to be challenged,” said Sands. “I’m going to have good games, I’m going to have bad games, but if you are at that level, then you know in the right place.”

Where that challenge leads will be part of the pleasure to see what Sands does Germany. The national team of the United States is quite deep in the defensive midfield with Tyler Adams And Johnny Cardoso At high -level performance for their clubs, but if Sands continues to grow, there is no reason why he should not be on it Mauricio Pochettin’s radar. The beginning is in a club where he can show What he can do, and St. Pauli has been the right step for him. It may have been time to come back to MLS to find that right move, but the competition here is for that.

It not only helps to produce players such as Sands, but it is also here if they have to take the time to reset and return to their best. That is why no movement should be written off because progress is never linear, and what is good for one American player is not always what is good for others. Sands uses his own path and success is added.