National team must win by two-goal margin to keep alive automatic promotion hopes
The Malta national team faces its most important fixture of the year when they take on Moldova in a decisive UEFA Nations League clash at the National Stadium this evening (kick-off: 18.00).
A 2-0 defeat in Chisinau last month has left the national team with a mountain to climb and secure an unprecedented promotion from League D as they are currently trailing leaders Moldova by three points.
With just two matches to go until the end of the campaign, the national team has no margin of error. They need to beat the Moldovans by at least two goals to keep alive their hopes of securing automatic promotion.
In the aftermath of last month’s defeat in Moldova and the 1-0 win in Andorra, the Malta FA decided to sack coach Michele Marcolini and bring back Davide Mazzotta, the former assistant of Devis Mangia, at the helm of the national team in a bid to revive their team’s aspirations.
Mazzotta, a member of Antonio Conte’s technical staff at Chelsea, said that it’s a dream come true to be given again the reins of the national team and is determined to give everything to achieve the best possible results.
“To be here as coach of the Malta national team is a dream come true for me,” Mazzotta told the Times of Malta.
“I am so proud to be given the chance of leading the national team and the emotions have been very strong since I came back here.
“I can’t describe the great joy I felt when I stepped in on the training pitch as Malta coach and I have no words to show my gratitude to the Malta FA administration that have handed me this opportunity.
“I can only promise them that I will give my all to try and achieve the results we are all looking for.”
Mazzotta spent two years working with Mangia at the helm of the national team and during that stint the side played some of its most attractive attacking football.
Are we expecting more of the same? Mazzotta’s answer was what the Maltese fans have been craving for.
“The fans want to see the team to be courageous and play attacking football and that is what we will try to do but obviously ensuring that there has to be a good level of equilibrium in our set-up,” Mazzotta said.
“Obviously, having a new coach it’s not easy for the players to adapt quickly to the new tactical system but in the past days I saw a lot of application and high motivation from the players and that is very important.
Clear identity
“I always shared Devis Mangia’s football philosophy to be attacking-minded but obviously football has evolved from two years ago and we need to adapt but being aggressive and try to attack will be the basic principle of our play.
“I want the team to have a clear playing identity and that is capable of keeping good control of the game and most importantly know what to do in various situations of the match, particularly when we are under pressure from our opponents.”
Mazzotta admitted that Moldova are a very strong opponent but said that given that they start with a clear advantage in the standings he would not be surprised that the former Russian Republic will try to play a waiting game and hurt us with quick transitions.
“Moldova are a very strong side,” Mazzotta said.
“They have some great players and the team has a great tactical structure. Technically, they are very strong and have some experienced players.
“I don’t expect them to come out and attack against us given the advantage they have in the standings. I believe they will try to hit us on the break.
“We have prepared well for them in any given situation but the most important will be that our players will know what to do in all scenarios that can evolve during the match.”
Mazzotta has included in his final squad for new players in defender Gabriel Mentz and Neil Micallef, and forwards Trent Buhagiar and Basil Tuma and is confident they can provide a lot of quality to the team.
“We have some new players, some of which also played for the U-21s, who are very interesting,” Mazzotta said.
“From what I can see there is great talent here in Malta and I’m confident that the national team will have a great future ahead as this team has great room for improvement.
“Having these young talented players is important as they will provide great competition in the team and provide a great blend of enthusiasm and experience in our team. No doubt, this is a national team that can have great future.”
Asked if he plans to utilise the new arrivals against Moldova, Mazzotta said.
“Yes definitely,” he said.
“Some of them will start and others will be introduced during the match. I have great faith in them, particularly when it comes to speed of play and their ability to dribble past their opponents and I hope that on Sunday we will be able to enjoy seeing them play for us.”
