A solid, trouble-free pre-season and a settled squad to bank on have galvanised Paul Zammit’s optimism that Valletta can seriously challenge for a berth in the second qualifying round of the 2016/17 Champions League.

Their quest to advance in Europe’s flagship competition kicks off this evening when Valletta take on B36 Torshavn, of Faroe Islands at the Hibs Stadium (7pm), knowing that a positive result on home soil would significantly improve their prospects of teeing up a second-round clash with Red Star Belgrade.

“We can’t keep looking at ourselves and think that our chances are slim,” Zammit told a pre-match news conference yesterday.

“We need to go into these matches convinced that we can fight for qualification and this is how we are approaching these games.”

This time last summer, Zammit was preparing his team for their Europa League games against unfancied Welsh side Newtown AFC, having had little time to stamp his mark on a revamped squad after replacing Ivan Zammit in the close season.

The outcome was very disappointing as Valletta were knocked out by Newtown but the mood in the City clan has changed dramatically over the past 12 months as Zammit has not only restored stability but steered the team to an odd-defying Premier League success.

“This project began last year,” Zammit said. “We built this squad last summer and our intention was to consolidate it this year.

“We have basically retained the same squad with a few additions. We have signed two foreign players, Argentines Leandro Aguirre and Santiago Malano, plus Steve Borg.”

Malta defender Borg, who rejoined Valletta after a one-year stint with Cypriot club Aris Limassol, will play no part in today’s game as he has yet to complete his recovery from a fatigue injury.

With Ryan Camilleri starting a four-match UEFA ban following his dismissal in last year’s second-leg tie against Newtown, the absence of Borg further stretches Zammit’s defensive resources but he can rely on Jonathan Caruana and Juan Cruz Gill with Ian Azzopardi also capable of filling in at centre-half.

Zammit expects wing-back Aguirre, 27, and Malano, a 28-year-old offensive midfielder, to add quality to his team.

“We had earmarked these two foreigners some months ago as both were playing in high-level championships in South America,” Zammit said.

“I want my team to have an identity but I’m also after versatility.

“Steve Borg had played for Valletta. He had an experience in Cyprus but I had been trying to lure him back since last season.

“These were the three players we targeted and we managed to get them.”

Quizzed on Abdelkarim Nafti’s departure, Zammit described the Tunisian as a very important player for Valletta in the last few seasons but stressed that the decision not to offer him a new contract was a technical one.

The situation was starkly different with Federico Falcone as Valletta had a big task to keep the Argentine who is expected to spearhead their attack this evening.

“Falcone has another year left on his contract with Valletta,” Zammit said.

“It was not only Falcone but also other foreign players in our squad who were attracting the interest of overseas clubs.

“Falcone is a professional player, he spoke to us about the options he had but he is a Valletta player.”

On paper, B36 are within Valletta’s reach but Zammit is not underestimating a team who have an edge in terms of match fitness.

“B36 played 16 games in their domestic championship,” Zammit observed.

“Their last game was on Thursday and they travelled to Malta the following day, which goes to show that they are also determined to perform well in these games.

“B36 are fourth in their league. We did our research on them, we know what their strengths are but we are also aware of our own strengths.”

The Valletta coach said B36’s playing style is very positive but, as most teams from Nordic countries, they are also a physical side.

“They are strong, physically, but I described their style as positive because they also try to build from the back,” Zammit said.

Bonello praise

Also present for yesterday’s news conference was goalkeeper Henry Bonello who said the players are concentrated and motivated to attain a positive result in today’s home encounter to keep the tie alive.

Starting Malta’s last three friendly games has also strengthened Bonello’s confidence ahead of Valletta’s Champions League assignments. “The level of international football is higher than domestic football,” Bonello said.

“Playing for Malta also helps to prepare you for these kind of matches. I feel that my match fitness is high, also because the last two Malta friendlies (vs Czech Republic and Austria) were at the end of the season.”

Bonello’s comments were endorsed by Zammit who lauded his goalkeeper.

“I always believed that Henry was a valid goalkeeper,” the Valletta coach said.

“He had certain weaknesses but these have been addressed. Henry was excellent in the second half of last season and it’s up to him to maintain this level.

“I believe he is now the leading contender for the no.1 shirt with the national team.”

Paul Spiteri, the Valletta vice-president, confirmed that the club have sorted out their travel and accommodation issues ahead of the away match in Torshavn next week.

The Maltese champions will be flying out to the Faroe Islands on Saturday.

Referee: Radu Petrescu (Romania).

Champions League
First qualifying round (today’s first legs)
Flora Tallinn (Estonia) vs Lincoln (Gibraltar) - 18.00
The New Saints (Wales) vs Tre Penne (San Marino) - 20.00
Valletta (Malta) vs B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands) - 19.00
Santa Coloma (Andorra) vs Alashkert (Armenia) - 20.00

Second legs: July 5 and 6.