MSV Duisburg: Promising start! This is how Kilian Pagliuca’s debut went

The jersey with the number 20 on the back did not even have a name on it yet, but there was a lot of applause from the stands when Kilian Pagliuca’s name was called out in the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, which was well attended with over 8,000 spectators.

As a test player, offensive player Dietmar Hirsch impressed in the past training week.

The reward: A place in the starting eleven in the Lower Rhine Cup second round match against Hamborn 07 (5:0). The 39-time third division player was even involved in the creation of Jan-Simon Symalla’s first goal.

“He did very well, otherwise he wouldn’t have played,” said Hirsch. “It was exactly the right time to get some direct match practice.” He calmed the game down in certain situations, which we’ve been lacking a little in the past. His experience will do us good in the next regional league games.”

Such games are never easy and you have to approach them professionally. Mannheim was also knocked out by a seventh division team

Kilian Pagliuca

The Swiss, who most recently played for Alemannia Aachen and Chemnitzer FC, enjoyed the special atmosphere. “I obviously still remember the good atmosphere from Aachen. What the fans did in a cup game like that was outstanding. That obviously gives us extra motivation. When you play for a traditional club like MSV, it’s our duty to always give our all.”

Even though the Zebras struggled for a long time against the deep-lying regional league team and only started to play at full speed at the beginning of the final quarter of an hour, Pagliuca was relaxed: “Such games are never easy and you just have to approach them professionally. Mannheim were also knocked out by a seventh division team.”

The 28-year-old is still a long way from 100 percent. But the midfielder showed his ability with the assist. “That’s my quality. I often play with risk and just love playing balls deep like I did before the 1-0. I hope there will be a few more this season.”

His already well-known teammates Franko Uzelac, Malek Fakhro and Kevin Kunz made it easy for Pagliuca to get started at MSV. Now it’s all about continuing the good start from the cup in everyday league life. Ideally, in the top match next Saturday against league leaders Fortuna Köln.