Malta coach makes impassioned appeal to fans

Malta coach Ray Farrugia made an impassioned appeal to the fans to rally behind the national team in their UEFA Nations League Group D3 match against Azerbaijan on Monday at the National Stadium (kick-off 20.45).  Our team endured a difficult start to their UEFA Nations League campaign after losing 3-1 to the Faroe Islands, prompting Farrugia to call on the Maltese public to stick together and support the national side. “The Maltese people have been suffering for a long time in football,” Farrugia replied when asked how he intended to motivate his players for Monday’s match. “We normally stick together as a nation but unfortunately in football it’s not the same. “I know that you have football in your heart but we need to stick together. “I honestly believe that if we back each other, we can go forward. “The players are suffering but we need to support our boys. “They are human beings and I can assure you that they are giving their all. “The national team doesn’t belong to Ray Farrugia, it is yours, mine, theirs... it’s our team.” Avoidable goals spoiled an otherwise lively Malta performance in Torshavn on Friday but Farrugia and his coaching staff have taken a number positives from the defeat to the Faroe Islands. “We committed silly mistakes,” Farrugia said. “You can play well but if you lose it counts for nothing. “But, we have taken some positive things from that match... we were not afraid, we attacked and created chances.” Farrugia has a lot of respect for Azerbaijan, the top-ranked team in League D according to their UEFA co-efficient, but is upbeat that Malta can bounce back from Friday’s upset and pick up the first points in Group D3. The Malta coach said veteran midfielder Roderick Briffa has recovered from a slight injury and is available to play against Azerbaijan who kicked off their UEFA Nations League trek with a goalless home draw against Kosovo. SCHEMBRI STAYS POSITIVEEchoing the national coach’s words, Andrè Schembri portrayed a very positive picture of the dressing-room atmosphere and the work of Farrugia and his coaching team, namely assistant coaches Branko Nisevic and Ronald Vella, physical trainer Luca Pagani and goalkeepers’ coach Charles Sciberras. “We were very disappointed after our defeat to the Faroe Islands but we’re not looking back,” the Apollon Limassol playmaker said. “That match is in the past now and we are concentrating on our next one against Azerbaijan. “Our team is strong enough to gain a good result against Azerbaijan, we showed this in the past. “We are working a lot tactically and there is a very different atmosphere in the dressing room but we need everyone to support us.”