New Valletta coach Zoran Popovic is warning his players against complacency as the Citizens open their Europa League campaign with a match against fellow minnows San Marino’s Folgore at the Hibs Stadium this evening.
When the draw for the first qualifying round of the competition was made last week, high expectations immediate grew inside the Valletta fans that their team could see off the modest San Marino opponents and set up a second qualifying round tie against Dutch side FC Utrecht.
But Serbian mentor Popovic, who replaced Paul Zammit in the close season, is not taking Folgore lightly and said that his team must produce their best football to reach the next round.
“We are treating this match against Folgore very seriously,” Popovic told Times of Malta yesterday.
“San Marino may not boast great football tradition but from the information we have gathered, Folgore have several Italian players on their books who played as high as Serie B and Serie C not long ago. So we cannot underestimate them.
“I’m pleased with the physical condition of the team and they’re all looking forward to put on a strong performance. We know that winning the first leg at home will be crucial and we will do all we can to make that happen.”
Popovic has inherited almost the same group of players that donned the City shirt last season with the exception of Lithuanian duo Dziugas Bartkus and Tomas Radzinevicius, Argentine Leandro Aguirre and Valdo Alhinho, of Portugal.
Briffa, Muscat out
This evening, the Serbian cannot bank on defender Jonathan Caruana, who is currently serving a doping suspension, and midfield duo Roderick Briffa and Rowen Muscat who are not fit enough to play.
“We are approaching this match with a relatively small squad of 15 players,” Popovic said.
“The absence of key players such as Jonathan Caruana, Roderick Briffa and Rowen Muscat is a blow for us but at the same time we know we still have a very competitive team.
“Our summer signings have adapted well to the new conditions and have given us added strength but I’m still looking to bring in other players.
“At the moment we’re looking to get two other overseas players to add more strength in depth and hopefully we will be able to wrap up deals in the next few weeks.”
Folgore are travelling to Malta with several new faces in their squad.
Oscar Lasagni, who replaced Nicola Tamagnini as first team coach, has brought in goalkeeper Luca Bianchi on loan from FC Fiorentino.
Bianchi is expected to replace regular goalkeeper Davide Bicchiarelli who is unavailable.
Folgore have also signed defender Alexander Semprini, midfielders Luca Bonifazi and Stefano Sacco and Argentine striker Ramiro Martin Lago, who last season played for San Marino rivals Pennarossa.
Lasagni is hopeful that his players will be able to make life difficult for Valletta as he looks to keep alive the tie alive ahead of the second leg next week.
“We are aware that Valletta are a team of great tradition in the Maltese league and played regularly in Europe for several years now,” Lasagni told reporters yesterday.
“Valletta start favourites but we came here with added motivation and great determination to hold our own.
“I’m sure that if my players stick the gameplan we can keep ourselves in the tie ahead of the second leg.”