All pressure on Vitoria Guimaraes, says Floriana coach Abdilla ahead of Conference League tie

Floriana coach Darren Abdilla is urging his players to enjoy the experience of facing a top side like Vitoria Guimaraes as last season’s FA Trophy finalists face the Portuguese giants in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League on Thursday evening.

Floriana progressed to the second qualifying round after seeing off a resilient Tre Penne, of San Marino, 4-2 on aggregate, and set up a date against Portuguese giants Vitoria Guimaraes.

The Greens are bracing themselves for a tough challenge against one of Portugal’s top sides and Abdilla said that while they accept that Vitoria are a team well above the level of Maltese football, he is still encouraging his players to give it a good shot and try and secure a positive result ahead of next week’s second leg.

“If you look at our opponents, Vitoria Guimaraes, they are a team who is superior to the level of Maltese football,” Abdilla said.

“They are one of the top five teams in Portugal so it’s going to be very tough. However, our main objective is to keep the tie alive before the start of the second leg in Portugal.

“It will not be easy but past experiences show that Maltese teams have managed on more than one occasion to secure positive results against superior opposition as happened when I was in charge with Gżira United we managed to hold Austria’s top side Wolfsberger to a goalless draw away from our home.

“It is going to be crucial that against Vitoria we show good defensive organisation, try to close all spaces for their forwards and try and make it as difficult as possible for them to threaten our goal.

“I am sure that we can give them a good run for their money.

“It’s important that we are focused and determined and I have no doubt that on our day we are more than capable of getting a positive result.”

Asked to give some details on Vitoria’s strengths, Abdilla said: “Vitoria are under the charge of a new coach, Jo Da Silva, who has decided to preserve their 3-5-2 playing system. Their star player is Jota who represented his country at Euro 2024. They have strengthened their squad with three top-quality signings and play a very direct game.

“They played two friendlies against Middlesbrough and Rayo Vallecano and won both matches, so they are coming to Malta brimming with confidence.”

Abdilla said that he has one message for his players for this tie, to enjoy themselves and try and play their game.

“I want my players to play their game and try to threaten Vitoria Guimaraes,” he said.

“At the end of the day, all the pressure is on their shoulders as their club and fans expect them to reach the group stages of the Conference League.

“It’s a great experience for my players to play against a team of such quality and I hope that they try to enjoy themselves as at the end of the day we have nothing to lose.

“We need to try our best so that we will have no recriminations.”

Asked whether he was concerned by his team’s profligacy in last week’s second leg against Tre Penne, Abdilla said: “I would be concerned had we struggled to create chances.

“But we had several scoring opportunities which we failed to convert, but I’m sure we will improve.”