Project off to promising start

The season is still in its infancy but Valletta have already attained a significant morale booster.

Eager to put down an early marker after their failure to win any silverware last season, the Citizens have written a new chapter in their history after becoming the first Maltese team to make it through to the second qualifying round of the Europa League, UEFA's new competition.

Pitched in a two-legged clash with Iceland's Keflavik, not the most glamorous of teams but still a tough proposition given their superior match fitness, Valletta passed the test with flying colours as they won 5-2 on aggregate.

A 3-0 win in the first leg gave Valletta a solid platform to advance to the next stage but the prospect of combating Keflavik at their own lair was still a daunting task for the Whites, what with the perpetual difficulties encountered by Maltese teams on foreign soil.

Come Thursday evening, the sun shone brightly on Keflavik's stadium and Valletta duly reaped the rewards for their positive approach.

Dyson Falzon gave Valletta a deserved lead but Keflavik, keen to restore some lost pride, hit back to go 2-1 in front.

The Icelandic side mounted a brief period of sustained pressure but Valletta regrouped and levelled matters through Njongo Priso eight minutes from time.

Valletta's refusal to settle for a 2-1 defeat, which would have been enough to see them through, delighted their coach Ton Caanen.

"I knew that if my team played well, we would create scoring chances," Caanen told The Times.

"I was also convinced that we could score goals here. Keflavik were a bit quiet in the opening stages but I expected them to take more risks as the game moved on. We just had to be patient.

"We might have been 3-0 up at half-time. Dyson put us ahead with a top-class goal."

Valletta were pegged back in the first 15 minutes of the second half but quickly regained their composure. Caanen blamed tiredness for his team's wobbly start to the second half.

"We are in the third week of our pre-season," he said.

"Moreover, we had a very long trip to Iceland. The players lost concentration and couldn't bring themselves to maintain the compactness they showed in the opening half.

"I instructed Jordi Cruyff to support the defenders and his presence at the back settled our nerves."

Caanen and his players have little time to savour their achievement as in less than a week's time, they will play the first leg of their second qualifying round, away to Irish side St Patrick's.

"St Patrick's are stronger than Keflavik," Caanen, who flew to Ireland yesterday to assess his team's impending opponents, remarked.

"The best players in Ireland play in England but I expect two physical games against St Patrick's and the tempo will certainly be higher. It's going to be another challenge for us.

"But, we are approaching the game in high spirits after scoring five goals in the last two matches. St Patrick's will surely have taken notice that Valletta have netted twice in the away leg."

Valletta's progress to the next round makes for a flying start to Caanen's reign as City coach.

"I want us to improve gradually," Caanen said.

"I took up this job because I believe in projects. Every coach likes to work in England and Spain but when Valletta made their proposal, I had this feeling that this was the right job for me.

"We've made a good start which also repays the commitment of the president, Victor Sciriha. His heart is with the club. I pressed him to sign better foreign players in the close season to raise the level of this team because I want to see him with a smile on his face in the stands.

"Today, Mr Sciriha was grinning from ear to ear and the happiness he showed when he congratulated me after the game means much more than money."

Fully deserved

Sciriha was elated after the match.

"Our positive results in the Europa League, both home and away, were deserved," he said.

"This was a significant achievement for our club, moreso when one considers the emphatic manner of our aggregate victory over Keflavik. I don't agree with comments that Keflavik were weak opponents because we had to work hard to gain these results."

At the unveiling of Caanen and Cruyff last month, Sciriha declared that progress in European competitions constituted a long-term objective for Valletta.

Asked if he expected his team to achieve that aim in the first month of Caanen's tenure, Sciriha replied: "Initially, I didn't expect the team to make it this season but after pre-season training began, I was impressed with the coach's professional approach and his expertise.

"Caanen showed his tactical nous here when he dropped Cruyff in defence after Keflavik went 2-1 up. Cruyff's experience came to the fore as he did a good job at the back."

Sciriha's glee in Keflavik was in contrast with his subdued mood after Valletta, having failed to retain the Premier League title, lost to Sliema Wanderers in the final of the FA Trophy last May.

"That was a complete failure as we were in the hunt for two major honours but ended up empty-handed," Sciriha said.

"I believe that our results in the Europa League vindicate our investment in the coach and foreigners. Last season, our foreign players failed to leave the desired impact but I'm confident that Cruyff and Geert den Ouden will live up to expectations."

Valletta intend to conduct a pre-season training camp in the Netherlands later this month.

"First, we have to wait for the outcome of our matches against St Patrick's," Sciriha said.

"If we fail to progress, we plan to send the first team for a training camp in the Netherlands between July 26 and August 2."