Ħamrun coach Modica wants maximum effort from his players against Dynamo Kyviv

Ħamrun Spartans will be looking to put on a solid performance against Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, second leg tie in Poland tonight (kick-off: 8pm).

The Malta champions are aware that their hopes of progression to the next round of UEFA’s elite club competition are almost null following last week’s 3-0 defeat in the opening leg at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

Still, coach Giacomo Modica will be determined to see his players try and restore some lost pride with a battling performance to bow out of the competition with the best possible result.

After their heroic performance against FK Zalgiris in the first qualifying round, it was always going to be difficult to upset the two-time UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup winners for the Spartans.

But the Ħamrun coach is determined to see his players use these matches as an opportunity to gain more intensity and match sharpness ahead of their commitments in the Europa League and eventually the UEFA Conference League.

The Spartans did create some uneasy moments for their Ukrainian opponents during last week’s match, but their failure to capitalise on inviting openings in their opponents’ box came back to haunt them.

This is because Dynamo Kyiv produced a clinical display, which saw them punish the Spartans for every small mistake they committed at the back.

In his pre-match press conference, Modica asked his players to produce a more determined and professional display on Tuesday night.

“Our approach has to be different than the one we had in the first leg in Malta,” Modica told the Times of Malta.

“We are aware that we are set to face another difficult match, and the 0-3 scoreline from the first leg further complicates our task.

“It’s important that every player feels a sense of responsibility and approaches the match with the highest level of professionalism.

“In the first leg, we didn’t play our best game, but now we have the opportunity to try and make up with a more determined approach, and that is why we need to be very professional on the field of play.”

The Ħamrun coach said it’s clear that qualification is very tough to attain, given the first-leg scoreline, but he wants every player to do his part.

“I expect all of my players to do their part towards a strong performance,” Modica said.

“When you play against a stronger opponent, many times it generates a special energy, and everyone increases their level of effort.  

“I expect the players to put on a strong effort and show a lot of discipline on the pitch. They must remember who they are representing, and thus, they need to put in maximum effort to make the club proud.

“There has to be maximum effort so there are no recriminations, and if we go out of the competition, we do so with our head held high.”

Should the Spartans suffer elimination today, they will be up against the loser of the UEFA Champions League tie between Cypriot side FC Pafos and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are currently locked at 1-1 following last week’s first leg in Cyprus.

The Ħamrun coach is likely to be again without wingers Jonny and Merlin Hadzi, who both picked up injuries against Zalgiris and are still working hard to recover their full fitness.