Watch: New look Floriana out to avoid the blues again

Runners-up in both competitions last year, Floriana will be out to avoid the blues again this season and dispel any fears that the Greens are scared of the finish line.

President Johann Said took a bold decision to draw a line on last season and removing the protagonists of last year’s painful campaign and replace them with seasoned professionals to help the club overcome the psychological drawback of failing the last hurdle.

Out went former World Cup Champion Mauro German Camoranesi and Willis Furtado, and in came former Gżira United coach Darren Abdilla and ex-Ħamrun Spartans striker Frank Sassere.

Having struggled to find their usual rhythm in their first outing against Melita, Floriana will be looking to rediscover their early panache when they take last year’s Premier League champions Hamrun Spartans this weekend.

Abdilla expects a bold reaction from his team and admitted that the players were a bit gripped by match fear in match against Melita.  

“A new process has begun, full of ups and downs. It is important that the supporters understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day and it will take some time to grasp a new football philosophy. We need to improve in many things. We can improve by working hard during training” he explained.

“Since the turn of the millennium, that is, in 24 years, Floriana changed 26 coaches but won just six trophies. So changing the coach is no guarantee of success. Having said that, I will take full responsibility for the teams’ result. Then, the president has the power to remove me,” he insisted.

But Said toed the party line and insisted that “Abdilla is here to stay”.

“Our club is built on three pillars – humility, respect and determination,” he explained.

Yet, the Floriana camp remains optimistic for the new season, comforted by the fact “that we were only Maltese side to qualify a second round in European competitions. We played two very good games against Vitoria Guimaraes. We made their life difficult in Malta and had three clear cut goal opportunities. Mind you, Vitoria are still in the competition, enjoying a healthy first leg lead over their opponents [Zrinjski Mostar] and still to concede a goal,” Abdilla explained.

The Greens was also buoyed by the prospect that the new league format allows new teams time to settle down, as they could still end the season at the summit of the Premier League even after a shaky start.

Yet Abdilla made the team’s objective clear. “We went to find top of the league both in the Apertura and Clausura phases,” he added.

During the transfer market, Floriana have brought in six new recruits, goalkeepers Chris Mafoumbi and Saul Gracia, midfielders Fernandinho and Thiaguinho, and strikers Anthony Obonogwu and Sasere.

President Said did not rule out the possibility of more new signing arriving before the transfer window closes on September 2.

However, he admitted that his long-cherished dream is “to sign a Maltese midfielder playing abroad”.

Wearing a half smile on the face, Said denied he was referring to Matthew Guillaumier.