Watch: Ħamrun Spartans coach Modica tells players to give their all on historic League Phase debut at Jagiellonia

Ħamrun Spartans will make a historic first appearance in the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League when they take on Jagiellonia Białystok at the Chorten Arena in Poland on Thursday evening (kick-off: 6:45 p.m.).

This is a momentous occasion not only for the Spartans but also for Maltese football in general, as it marks the first time a team from our islands is competing in the League Phase of a UEFA club competition.

Coach Giacomo Modica said that there was a great sense of pride to be starting this exciting European adventure and has called the players to approach the match with maximum commitment and application as such a prestigious occasion.

“To be one of the teams that qualified for the League Phase of the Conference League is something to be really proud of, as only the best teams in the competition manage to reach this stage,” Modica said.

“First up are Polish side Jagiellonia. It’s going to be a difficult match, but not impossible as in football anything can happen. We must approach this match with maximum responsibility, application, and commitment.

“Jagiellonia might look like a very strong team, but they have to show it on the pitch, and if by the end of the 90 minutes they prove their superiority, we will congratulate them.

“One thing I can assure everyone is that we will take the pitch not with the mindset that we have already lost the match, but we will fight hard for all 90 minutes and see where it will take us.”

Ħamrun Spartans’ build-up to the match was far from ideal as following their historic qualification, they were forced to play five matches in the space of a fortnight, giving a severe headache to Modica to ensure all players remain in good condition for the start of the League Phase.

“Whoever made the Premier League schedule for this month has surely put us at a great disadvantage,” Modica said.

“Playing five matches in the space of 15 days was not an advantage but a massacre on our fitness. Added to that, when we come back from this match in Poland, we have another match two days later!

“To be honest, I don’t know the criteria followed by those who are responsible for the fixtures list.

“To have a Maltese team that qualifies for the League Phase of a  UEFA competition puts a focus not just on the club but also on Maltese football in general. I believe that they could have moved one or two fixtures to ensure we can prepare well for these matches as at the end of the day, if we perform well it will provide a positive exposure to Maltese football in general.

“But that is what the football authorities decided and we  just have to adapt to the difficult situation.”

Jagiellonia have, over the years, established themselves as a strong force not only in Polish football but also in UEFA competitions, as last season they managed to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League, where they were eliminated by the finalists Real Betis.

“Jagiellonia is a football reality for several years,” Modica said.

“They may be a small city in Poland but they are a very strong reality in football. We need to ensure that we put on a strong showing and try and make life difficult for them. If we don’t perform at 100 per cent we will have a lot of problems.

“Jagiellonia is a very physical side that boasts a lot of experienced players. They are very strong in attack, and if we commit a mistake, they will surely punish us. So we need to be at our best and make sure that we are not just there to make the numbers but to offer them a strong challenge.

“It was great to qualify for the League Phase, but our focus has to be to try and give everything we have and see where it will take us. We can’t rely on our past achievements, as those will remain forever, but are part of history. We need to focus on the present and make sure we continue to represent our club in the best possible way.”