Zach Muscat... resilient.

Birkirkara defender Zach Muscat is backing his team to improve on their display at Upton Park when they face West Ham United this evening at the National Stadium.

“We know West Ham better after the first leg,” Muscat told Times of Malta.

“Before last week’s game, we relied on videos to study West Ham but now we know what their players can offer.

“Perhaps they will change a few things from the first leg but I feel that we are in a better position to cope with the challenge now.

“There was no pressure on us before the away game and nothing has changed.”

James Tomkins’s tap-in on the stroke of time handed West Ham a 1-0 win at the Boleyn Ground last Thursday after the Londoners had struggled to break down Birkirkara’s dogged resistance despite dominating possession.

Muscat acknowledged that the first-leg outcome has gone a long way towards enhancing Birkirkara’s confidence but he is not getting ahead of himself.

“We are still the underdogs in this match,” Muscat reflected.

“Even if we managed to keep a clean sheet away, our status would not have changed. The match at a packed Upton Park was extra-ordinary but we surprised even ourselves with the way we played.

“It was certainly not a case of us turning up for the game just to honour the fixture, we did our bit and the tie is still alive.”

Birkirkara’s exciting adventure in this season’s Europa League has banished any lingering scepticism about the club’s decision to appoint Giovanni Tedesco as coach after parting ways with the popular Paul Zammit just a few days after the latter led the team to success in the FA Trophy in May.

Faced with a question about Tedesco’s impact at Birkirkara, Muscat replied: “The coach has strengthened the unity among the players.

“The base of the squad is the same as last year but he has instilled more aggression in us. He works a lot on tactics and has changed our approach to training.

It was certainly not a case of us turning up for the game just to honour the fixture, we did our bit and the tie is still alive

“No sooner had we beaten FC Ulisses that Tedesco was thinking of West Ham. He said it with a smile on his face, partly joking, but he got his message across.”

The minimal 1-0 defeat at Upton Park has sent expectations soaring ahead of today’s home leg with thousands of fans expected to flock to the National Stadium.

“All the people I’ve spoken to in the last few days have told me that they are going to the game,” Muscat said.

“And it’s not only the Birkirkara supporters who are buying the tickets.

“The atmosphere will be great and I hope that all the Maltese fans get behind us like they do when we play for the national team.”

One month shy of his 22nd birthday, Muscat has long established himself as one of the strongest and most versatile defenders in the Maltese Premier League.

It says all about his talent and perse-verance that Muscat has not only nailed down a regular place with Birkirkara but has also featured regularly for the senior Malta team since making his first start in the 2-0 defeat away to Croatia last September.

“It has been a very positive and rewarding year for me but also very demanding,” Muscat, who came through the youth nursery of Pietà Hotspurs, said.

“Not many people are aware that I have just completed the final year of my first degree (architecture), so I had to juggle a lot of things.

“I’m very pleased that I’ve made a good number of appearances for the national team and I’ve also established myself at Birkirkara but I’m always looking to improve and reach higher targets.”

In last week’s game, Muscat had his work cut out on the right flank as the Hammers attacked down the wings but he’s confident of rising to the challenge tonight.

“My best position is central defender but at Birkirkara I’ve also been deployed at right-back,” Muscat said.

“In the domestic championship, I don’t find it difficult to adjust. But, against West Ham it was a lot harder as they had a pure winger who kept coming at me and the flank defender also overlapped, at times creating a two-vs-one situation.

“I feel that I’m more prepared to cope with the challenge this time around. All week I’ve been focusing on this match and I believe that with the help of the coach and my team-mates, I will do well.”