· Farrugia says we started a process that will bring rewards
· Ryan Camilleri and Joseph Zerafa expected to return
National coach Ray Farrugia confirmed that there will be changes for tonight’s match in Baku. Malta will face Azerbaijan in the fourth match of the UEFA Nations League D group 3 match tonight in Baku.
Azerbaijan are fresh from their convincing victory against Faroe Islands last Thursday, a win that kept their hopes of winning the group alive, and will surely be going all out for the three points this evening.
National coach Farrugia stated that this is going to be another difficult test for the Malta side. He said that our opponents are coming from a good away win and for us it is going to be another difficult test.
However Farrugia was optimistic about our chances of getting something from this match, which he said will be our aim this evening. However he said that if we remain compact and do not make mistakes, we are capable of repeating the same performance like the one we had at Ta’ Qali a month ago against the same Azerbaijan.
Changes are expected for today’s match with Jean Paul Farrugia likely to be preferred to Alfred Effiong to fill for the suspended Michael Mifsud. This will probably retreat Andre Schembri to midfield, after he was employed as striker against Kosovo.
Juan Corbolan is most likely to retain his place, but other changes are expected in the defensive set-up as Ryan Camilleri has recovered from his ankle problems and Joseph Zerafa is expected to be included in the starting line-up after serving a one-match suspension against Kosovo.
Malta’s probable formation this evening could be: A. Hogg, J. Mbong, S. Borg, A. Agius, R. Camilleri, J. Zerafa, A. Schembri, P. Fenech, R. Muscat, J. Corbolan, J.P. Farrugia.
Asked about the gap between our side and the rest of the teams in the group, Farrugia insisted that the gap is not getting bigger. He said that we are in a transitional period and we need time to complete the process started.
He also said that this new competition is of great benefit to us, as he prefers to play competitive matches, rather than friendlies which many a times are of no benefit for the build up of the team.
Farrugia said that in the last ten years practically no new players were introduced to the squad, but in the last two games two to three young players were introduced and others will do so in the future.
Farrugia congratulated the Under-21 side for its victory yesterday at Ta’ Qali against Hungary, a result that gives us an added boost for the Azerbaijan game, Farrugia added.
Farrugia concluded that we need to be patient to see this project completed. He said that the process will be long one, and we will suffer in this process, but in the end we will benefit for a better future.
Malta defender and scorer against Kosovo Andrei Agius, also addressed the press conference yesterday at Baku. He said that like all games this will be a difficult test, but he said the squad is well prepared and optimistic. He said that the aim is to get something from this match.
Andrei Agius concluded that if we want to see progress in Maltese football and sports in general, we have to be professionally focused on the sport all year round. He said that this applies to all levels and everyone involved in the sport should be fully focused on the sport all year round.