Everyone should be proud of our players – Mangia

Malta coach Devis Mangia is looking forward to Tuesday’s decisive UEFA Nations League Group D1 clash with Faroe Islands at the National Stadium (kick-off 20.45). Three points separate the two teams with Faroe Islands currently top on 11 points, meaning Malta must win the game to stand a chance of topping the group and earn promotion to Group C of the UEFA Nations League. While Malta have already secured second spot in the group, Mangia said his team always go out with the intent of winning the game but insisted they already have good reason to be proud of their progress. “When we go out on the pitch, I want my players to think positively and try to win the game,” Mangia said at the pre-match press conference. “I like this mentality. However, everyone must be proud of these players for what they have already done until now. They have done positive things for the football community and the country as a whole.” Despite the high expectations surrouding this game, arguably the biggest in the national team’s history, Mangia urged his players to stay focused and calm. “The players should not be nervous,” the Italian coach said. “They must be happy to be playing this game. We have to be positive. I’m sure that they will give everything on the pitch and after we will see because at the end of the day this is football.” Malta go into Tuesday’s clash with Faroe Islands, who are still unbeaten in Group D1, on the back of three success wins and a run of six matches without defeat. Mangia and his coaching staff have clearly had a very positive impact on the team with the Malta coach paying tribute to the players for their attitude and dedication. “To be honest, before I met the players for the first time, I thought it would take us some time to get to the levelwhere we are now, also because of the COVID-19 disruption, but after I met the players, seeing their attitude and enthusiasm, I believed that this was possible,” Mangia said. For Tuesday’s match, Gżira United defender Steve Borg returns from suspension. WE WILL GIVE EVERYTHING – AGIUS Malta captain Andrei Agius struck an upbeat note going into the Faroe Islands match. “This is a somewhat unusual position for us as we are approaching our last group game with a chance of achieving something,” Agius said. “We have done a lot of positive things in event months and this has put us in this position for this last match. “I see it as a chance to reap the rewards of all the work we have put in over the last few months. We will be giving everything to try and win this game and bring great satisfaction to the Maltese public.”