The Malta Independent 20 April 2024, Saturday
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Watch - UEFA Nations League, Azerbaijan v Malta: Ray Farrugia thanks squad for exceptional effort

Chris Cassar Sunday, 14 October 2018, 21:16 Last update: about 7 years ago

*   "The results will come if we pursue in this project"
*   Farrugia to call Zach Muscat and Luke Gambin to bring them back to the squad

A highly satisfied Ray Farrugia had words of praise to all players of the national team for their exceptional performance yesterday, a performance that landed Malta its second point in League D Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League.

Farrugia said that this point came against a very Azerbaijan side, which he said has a lot of talent. But he said that yesterday Malta deserved the point for the very good game played. He said that playing abroad and scoring too is not easy.

He also made a special mention to the youngsters employed yesterday, who like the rest had a very good performance. Farrugia said that this is our new philosophy, introducing youngsters with veterans, something which was rarely done in the past ten years.

He said that he's at the helm of the team for the last six months only, but the results will start to come. He stressed that this is a long process but that he believes in the project embarked upon.

Answering to questions from Maltese and local journalists present, Farrugia said that being a coach of the Malta national team is anything but an easy job. He said that he accepts the criticism which he receives, and said that he listens to all criticism because he can learn from everybody.

Asked about the fact that Zach Muscat played today for Pistoiese and was even sent off, Farrugia said that we are a small island and that everybody is needed. Farrugia said that on arrival in Malta he will call both Zach Muscat and Luke Gambin to try to lure them back for Malta's forthcoming matches against Kosovo and Faroe Islands, were Malta will surely be without defenders Andrei Agius and Steve Borg, who both received another booking yesterday.

Farrugia's last thoughts went to the few supporters present who braved the long trip to Baku to support the Malta squad, where Farrugia thanked these supporters, who kept believing in the squad.


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