Valletta FC coach Ton Caanen, of the Netherlands, yesterday pledged that he will be insisting on his players to fight every inch against Iceland’s Keflavik today to try and get a positive result.

Caanen, appointed by Valletta last month, has been here only a few weeks, but his arrival here as well as that of players Jordi Cruyff and now also Geert van Ouden has lifted the morale of the fans who were disappointed last season when the team failed to win a trophy.

After another disappointment in the Euro Cup tournament – the side lost to Hibs and Sliema, but beat Birkirkara – the citizens now face Iceland’s Keflavik in this first qualifying round first leg tie at the Centenary Stadium (kick off 5.30pm).

The Citizens are certainly at a disadvantage compared to their opponents. Valletta, in fact, only started training three weeks ago, while the Icelandic side is already in their ninth league match of the season.

This will make Valletta’s task harder, and considering that the second leg will be played in Iceland in one week’s time, then Caanen’s boys will certainly have to be at their very best today to get a positive result which might help them to prepare themselves better for next week’s second leg.

Newcomers Geert den Ouden and Steve Borg will certainly be in the 18-man squad today, but Caanen could not say whether they will be in the starting line-up.

The Dutch coach said: “I will only be able to say who is playing a few hours before the match. They will definitely be in the squad. This is a very important match for us. I have seen our opponents in action and we are well aware they are one of the top Icelandic sides. At present, they lie in fourth place in the Premier League standings.

“We have to be cautious as well, but to get a positive result, we have to fight hard. And I will be insisting on my players to fight every inch of the way. We all know we have a chance and we will be doing our best to make the most of it.”