Valletta coach Gilbert Agius is banking on his team’s resilience and hunger for success as the FA Trophy holders will be looking to book their place in a second successive final when they take on Gżira United at the National Stadium this afternoon (kick-off: 17.00).

The newly-crowned Malta champions head into today’s semi-final on a high after two highly-emotional victories over Hibernians in the last seven days that handed them a 25th championship title and also a last-four berth in the FA Trophy that kept them on course to a league and cup double for a second successive season.

The only concern for the Citizens is that they arrive for their showdown with Gżira United not in the best physical condition after their players were involved in more than four hours of football during the last week.

The Maroons, on the other hand, played just over half an hour to complete a 2-1 win over Pietà Hotspurs after extra-time, in a rescheduled quarter-final that was suspended last February, ten days ago.

 Agius, the Valletta coach, said that it would be naive for him to make an excuse of his players’ fitness given that he knew that either his team or Hibernians would be facing the prospect of playing three matches in the space of a week after taking the title challenge to a decider.

“Playing a trophy semi-final is always of huge prestige for our club,” Agius said.

“The FA Trophy is a competition that gives you a different challenge to the Premier League. Playing three matches in a week is not the best scenario but I’m just pleased that we are heading into the match as Malta champions as all the players are in great psychological condition.

Gżira United will be really motivated today as they are looking to win their first major honour after several years

“Obviously my players are only humans and are not in the best physical condition but here I would like to thank our medical staff who have performed miracles so we could have our players in the right shape to play two very important matches.

“I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that we can recover as many players as possible.”

Agius admitted that Gżira United will provide a formidable challenge to his team but is backing his players to again show all their resilience and hunger for success to secure a place in the  final.

“Gżira United will be really motivated on Sunday as they are looking to win their first major honour after several years,” the Valletta coach said.

“This year they have turned out to be tough opponents for us and in fact they are one of the few teams we failed to beat.

“But, here at Valletta, we always relish such difficult challenges. We may not be in the best physical condition but the team is on a high and the players have showed all their determination and success to win some tough matches against Hibernians.

“Hopefully their grit and determination will be enough to see us through to a second consecutive FA Trophy final.”

Gżira United coach Jesmond Zerafa has played down Valletta’s physical problems and said that Valletta’s title success makes them even tougher opponents than what his team played against this season.

“Everyone is talking a lot about players’ fatigue but Valletta have so many experienced players that they are capable of going through such situations,” Zerafa said.

“They have just been crowned champions so mentally they will be firing on all cylinders and they will certainly be a far tougher proposition than what we played against this season.

Valletta duo Rowen Muscat (left) and Ryan Camilleri try to close down Andrew Cohen, of Gżira United. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

45-year-wait

“The most important thing for us is that we maintain our tactical discipline and organisation throughout the whole 90 minutes and ensure we take the opportunities that come our way.

“In Cup matches the team that commits the least number of honours will prevail and we have to make the most of it.”

Victory over Valletta today would put Gżira United just one win away from lifting the FA Trophy for the first time after a 45-year-wait.

“Winning the FA Trophy would be a huge achievement for our club after so many years without a trophy,” Zerafa said.

“The club administration over the last years have invested a lot to put the team challenging for the major honours and certainly the players have an opportunity to end the season with a trophy.

“But we can’t think too far ahead, first we need to beat Valletta. I have great faith in the players  and hopefully we can play to our strengths against Valletta and things will go our way.”

The FA Trophy semi-final between Valletta and Gżira will be officiated by Alan Mario Sant.