Roko Prsa said that Ħamrun Spartans have no plans of slowing down despite putting one hand on this season’s title crown with a 1-0 win over Hibernians.
On Sunday, the Croatian midfielder scored a fine individual goal that earned the Spartans a vital victory over champions Hibernians which put them in a commanding 11-point lead at the top with 11 matches to go until the end of the league campaign.
The Spartans were in command right from the outset against the Paolites, as they dominated possession throughout and their high pressing gave little space to the Hibernians players to create any danger to the Ħamrun Spartans defence.
“It was a great team performance,” Prsa told the Times of Malta.
“Hibernians changed their approach from our first meeting of the season where we had won 4-1. On Sunday, they tried to wait for us and try and hit us with swift transition play. But we have shown time and again this season that we keep believing in ourselves till the end.
“Even when we missed the penalty, we kept playing how we knew as we believed that we would find a way to score and that is what happened and in the end we could have won with a bigger margin.
“But what matters most are the three points and that we gave good reason to our loyal fans to celebrate after the match.”
Prsa put in a great shift on Sunday in the Spartans midfield but his best moment arrived just past the hour mark when he scored a goal of real quality.
“It was a great attacking play,” Prsa said of his goal.
“The coach always tells us to always attack the space and that is what I did. It was a great pass from Matthew Guillaumier and while 80 per cent of the players shoot in that situation I though ‘I can dribble a couple of defenders’. To be honest, Elvis Mashike’s block put me in a great position and when we celebrated I told him that it was his goal too.
“When I found myself in front of the goalkeeper I didn’t have space to shoot so I opted to chip the ball and it was a really great goal.”
Prsa said that although the Spartans have a huge lead at the top they have no plans take their foot off the pedal and they are targeting more than just the league title.
“There is no way that we are slowing down after this win,” Prsa said.
“The coach tells us all the time that need to give our 100 per cent in every match and hopefully we can wrap up the league title before the end of the season so we will have time to celebrate.
“But our goal is not just to win the league title. Our dream is to win the league and the FA Trophy and I will do everything in my power to attain this goal.”
Asked on his future, Prsa said: “I am very happy at Ħamrun Spartans, this is no secret. The club has a dream to attain in European football and we are geared up to reach that objective.
“This summer we came very close to reaching the group stages of the UEFA Conference League and hopefully we have another go at it. The club setup is excellent, and actually I was surprised how ambitious the club is.
“At the moment I am enjoying every moment at the club both on and off the pitch and hopefully we can wrap up the season in the best possible way.”
