Stripes mentor Stephen Azzopardi (pictured) has played down the tag of firm favourites to win the FA Trophy for a third time at the expense of minnows Msida St Joseph next Friday at Ta’ Qali.

Speaking to The Malta Independent yesterday, Azzopardi said: “Despite everyone saying that we are going to win hands down, we have to be realistic. This is a final and all boils down to those 90 minutes on the field of play that day. I do not think that we are firm favourites as many might be thinking.

“It is perhaps true that we have beaten Msida twice in the league, but this is something different. It is the match of their life for Msida and there will be tension on the field of play which will close the gap between the two teams. A mistake can prove to be fatal and we have to be alert from the very first whistle,” he said.

However, Azzopardi said he felt this match is being contested by friends. “We have a very good relationship with Msida. I also have a good personal relationship with Mario Petrone and we go on well together. But this does not mean that we will not be going out to win. A Trophy victory is our aim as it will help to appease the situation at the club after having missed out on the league. In this sense, I also appeal to our supporters to continue doing their part as they did against Sliema in the semi-final last Friday. We need them to put positive pressure on our players by attending at the Stadium and giving their full support throughout the match,” he said.

Azzopardi is confident that his team will win the Trophy. “It will not be easy. I expect our opponents to fight hard, but we have been producing some really good performances in the last three months or so. We have finished the Championship Pool without losing a match and now we have stretched our unbeaten run to 15 games, apart from having gone through five consecutive wins (including the semi-final penalty shootout win over Sliema). Of course, we will lose all that if we do not show maximum concentration on Friday,” he added.

Azzopardi said apart from Roderick Briffa (suspended) and the injured Mifsud Triganza and Antoine Zahra, there are also some doubts about Chucks Nwoko’s presence. “He is still being treated for a back injury which has haunted him throughout the season. I have not yet decided on the formation as I still have some other doubts about one or two players of those who started against Sliema,” he said.

Asked what would happen after Friday, Azzopardi said that was a question which only the chairman, Victor Zammit, was in a position to reply. “I can only say that this team is maturing rapidly. Let us not forget that its average age is 24 and most of the players are reaching the peak of their career. If I had to be at the helm in the running of the club, I would make some small touches to continue building on this squad which, I am sure, can battle on all fronts in future,” he said.