Naxxar Lions and Balzan have their eyes firmly set to secure three crucial points when they go head-to-head in a crucial relegation six-pointer at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Monday (kick-off: 4pm).
Both clubs have endured a very disappointing campaign so far and are in clear danger of losing their top-flight status come the end of the season after finishing in the bottom two places in the Opening Round late last year.
Now both Naxxar and Balzan have just one goal in their mind, that to avoid the bottom two places and force a relegation play-off, but to achieve that they need to revert their fortunes.
At present, Naxxar are anchored at the bottom of the standings with no points from four matches while Balzan are just one place above them with just three points to their name.
Facing such scenario it’s clear that both teams need to step up their game to revive their fortunes and start picking up points in a bid to gain ground on their rivals.
The Lions come into the match buoyed by Thursday’s
4-0 win over Żurrieq that pushed them into the FA Trophy quarter-finals.
Coach George Vella has been working hard to strengthen his side, bringing in ten reinforcements, and is hopeful the new recruits will take little time to settle in the new surroundings and start delivering for the team.
“There have been a lot of changes, and we need to adapt as we prepare for the match against Balzan,” Vella said.
“We’re motivated to compete, but with players coming from different cultures, adjusting to a new environment can be challenging. It takes time to find the right rhythm, but we are committed to the process.
“Physical conditioning is a key aspect of modern football, and we need to keep working on that.
“The team’s attitude is positive, even though the January transfer window is always tricky, no club is willing to let go its best players. Integrating new signings from different backgrounds takes time.
“At Naxxar, we have a positive atmosphere and are doing everything we can to help the team grow.
“The players are pushing themselves to the limit, and despite not picking up points recently, the team is improving with every match.
“The league is well-balanced, though four teams stand out in terms of quality. Still, every team is capable of posing a challenge to any opponent.”
On his part, Naxxar Lions midfielder Nikolai Micallef believes that Thursday’s win over Żurrieq could be a major turning point in their season, particularly from a psychological point of view.
“Negative results always affect morale, but we give everything in training,” Micallef said.
“Yesterday’s 4-0 Cup win over Żurrieq, could be a turning point for us.
“Even against Gżira and Mosta, we performed well, and I believe we could have won the Mosta game.
“We have the quality to put in a strong performance against Balzan on Monday.
“Winning brings confidence and motivation, and last night’s victory will help us build momentum. Our January signings are all quality players, and we fully believe in our strengths.”
The Lions will find in front of them a Balzan side who will be under the leadership of new coach Andrew Cohen.
The former Gżira United coach is aware of the tough task awaiting his team but said that he wants every player in his squad to fill important and give his contribution to help the club reach its objective of avoiding the drop.
“I have analyzed Balzan’s recent matches and worked on addressing our weaknesses while building on the positives,” Cohen said.
“I want to maximize our squad depth, and with more tactical work in training, we can take a step forward and start getting results.
“We also need to work on the mental aspect of the game.
“I accepted this job after seeing the players’ commitment in training before I made my decision after being invited by the club to take a look at the set-up.
“Ultimately after two days mulling over my immediate future, I have decided to step in and take this role and helping my players to improve.
“Defensively, we need to be more united. The number of goals we’ve conceded recently is unacceptable.
“We’re focusing on becoming more compact and eliminating unnecessary mistakes.
“I have only been three days with the team but all my players have responded well this week, and we are confident in our ability to turn things around, starting on Monday.”
Balzan’s star player Jan Busuttil admitted that this was his most difficult campaign of his career but he is raring to go to turn the huge pressure he has on his shoulders in positive energy to help the team come out of this difficult situation.”
“It’s a fresh start, and we’re fully behind the coach, hoping to get the results that will help us achieve our objectives by the end of the season,” Busuttil said.
“Football is full of ups and downs, and we know the club is in a difficult situation.
“However, with a new coach, we are all pulling in the same direction and taking things one game at a time, starting with Naxxar on Monday.
“Pressure is a privilege. We have to come together as a unit and work with the coach to get out of this situation.
“We are determined to make the necessary progress and give the club the reward it truly deserves come the end of this campaign.”
