Birkirkara coach Giovanni Tedesco has bemoaned the 2-1 defeat to Valletta, saying his team lost to a side that only had two shots on target.
“Valletta set out not to lose the game,” Tedesco said during the presentation of Birkirkara FC’s new signings and technical staff, held earlier today at the Royal Malta Yacht Club.
“They started with five defenders, a sign that Valletta showed a lot of respect for Birkirkara.
“I decided to put in Juan (Barraso) in the closing minutes because I wanted to win the game.
“Close encounters are decided by episodes and Valletta won thanks to a moment of individual play (from Priso).
“That said, Valletta only shot twice at goal… I lost to a team that only had two shots during the game, it was not like my side were penned in their own half for long stretches.”
Although disappointed about yesterday’s defeat, which left Birkirkara on four points from three game, Tedesco is confident that his team will come good as the season progresses.
“We have a good group of players and fantastic fans who once again showed their attachment to the club yesterday,” the former Palermo and Perugia midfielder said.
“The season is very long and I hope to repay the faith and esteem the club committee have shown in me.”
Birkirkara have been one of the most active clubs in the summer transfer market, bringing in a host of new foreigners, including former Italy striker Fabrizio Miccoli, Slovenian forward Vito Plut, Brazilian midfielder Emerson Marcelina and Nigerian winger Frank Temile plus three promising Maltese players in goalkeeper Philip Schranz, Cain Attard and Matteo Desira Buttigieg who has been loaned back to St Andrew’s.
Adrian Delia, the Birkirkara FC president, also expressed his disappointment at the team’s stuttering start to the domestic season after the Stripes had raises expectations with their fine showings against Armenia’s FC Ulisses and West Ham United in the Europa League.
“I know that we can’t win the championship in this manner,” Dr Delia said.
“Some people urged me to cancel this event just because we’ve had a negative result but this was never an option for me.
“We’re not here to escape from reality. Of course it’s difficult to start the season with this mediocrity in local competitions. I don’t know the reason but we are determined to work even harder, break more sweat and communicate more to get things right.”
Dr Delia thanked the Birkirkara FC members who, for the first time in the club’s history, total around 1,300. He also expressed his gratitude to all the club’s supporters, his fellow committee members for their unrelenting work and the sponsors, namely McDonalds, Meat Point at Scotts, MSV Life, Remedy Swiss, Powerade and EuroSport, Birkirkara’s technical partners.