Expects much more in crucial Georgia double-header
Malta secured a crucial victory over Andorra in the UEFA Women’s Nations League on Tuesday, but the performance left much to be desired.
While the three points were essential in their quest for promotion to League B, the manner in which they achieved them was far from convincing.
The game started on a promising note for Malta, as they immediately asserted dominance by pushing players forward and creating overloads in key areas.
Their intent was clear – to take control early and break through Andorra’s defensive setup.
That opening goal came just 11 minutes into the match, sparking expectations that Malta would cruise to a comfortable win, especially with Andorra looking to play higher up the pitch, leaving gaps for Malta to exploit.
“The performance was disappointing,” Malta women’s coach Manuela Tesse told the Times of Malta.
“During this international window, we trained very well but we did not translate that on the field during these matches and if you are not hungry for victories, you cannot achieve anything.
“We are the favourites but we are not living up to the expectations and our opponents are firing on all cylinders against us, and we have to be prepared for it.”
However, instead of building onto their lead, Malta struggled to make their possession count.
Their tempo dropped, and as the match progressed, Andorra gradually gained confidence, covering more ground and leaving Malta on the back foot.
Despite fielding a young squad – including players as young as 15 years – Andorra displayed resilience and determination.
Their lack of quality in attack was ultimately their biggest limitation, as they failed to capitalise on moments of promise.
“We feel good and strong, but if you are both these things, you need to show it on the field,” Tesse explained.
“I believe that we have produced interesting football during our League C and League B campaigns but we have showed nothing of it against Cyprus and Andorra.
“It feels like my players are feeling the weight of the pressure on their shoulders and it should not be this way.”
Tesse added that she expects more from her key players, particularly Inter’s Haley Bugeja and Maria Farrugia of Sheffield United, believing that both players could give more punch upfront such as taking on their opponents in one vs one situations.
At the same time, she heaped praise on Roma’s Lexine Farrugia, 17, who was the best attacking option for Malta against Andorra, threatening to find the net with a brilliant curling effort early in the second half.
Tesse has called on the players to step up and prove that they are worthy of the investment and visibility being given to the women’s game in Malta.
She believes that, alongside her staff, she is preparing the team well for matches, with the players responding positively in training.
However, she feels they are not translating that work effectively onto the pitch during games.
“I have tried different things including giving a chance to the new players and introducing young ones as well,” she said.
“At the same time, I will also take my responsibility and think about what we can improve for the next matches.”
Malta’s next challenge in the Women’s Nations League will be a double-header against Georgia, starting with an away fixture in Tbilisi in April before hosting them at home.
For Malta there will be no margin of error in these matches as at present the national team are sharing second spot with Georgia and back-to-back victories will put the side in a strong position to ensure a top-two placing, that could secure a promotion play-off spot.
However, coach Tesse will have to navigate these crucial matches without defender Charlene Zammit, who will serve a one-match suspension after receiving her second yellow card.
Disciplinary concerns have added to Tesse’s frustrations, as several players are now at risk of suspension, having already picked up a booking in the first two matches.
Under competition rules, a player is automatically suspended for one game after accumulating two yellow cards.
Looking ahead, Tesse emphasized the importance of raising their level if they want to secure promotion.
“The matches against Georgia will be like a final for us, and if we play like this, we don’t deserve to win,” she said.
“Even against Andorra, we deserved to draw. We only scored because of their mistake and then did nothing to secure the result. That is not sustainable.”
