Watch: Spartans coach Modica proud of his players but laments missed chances against Jagiellonia

Ħamrun Spartans coach Giacomo Modica was proud of the performance of his players during their 1-0 defeat to Jagiellonia in the UEFA Conference League, particularly.

The Spartans produced a very impressive performance against last season’s Conference League quarter-finalists, and could deem themselves unlucky not to return home with at least a point in the bag.

In the end, a fine goal from Jesus Imaz midway through the second half settled the match, but the Spartans kept fighting even after Joseph Mbong was sent off.

“It was a great performance,” Modica said.

“We have performed really well and the players fought with great determination, producing excellent transitions and had several scoring chances. And that is the biggest disappointment, as when you create three scoring chances, you need to convert one of them when you are playing at this level.

“But a big well done to the players who expressed great football, with a great will to succeed and we managed to stay in the match for the whole 95 minutes and that is the thing that pleased me most.

“This is because we are a team that wanted to play and challenge itself to get a positive result against a team that, at the moment, is of a superior pedigree to us.”

The Ħamrun Spartans coach lamented that his team should have been awarded a penalty when Stijn Meijer was floored inside the area by a Jagiellonia defender but neither the referee nor the VAR officials intervened.

“I believe that we should have been awarded a penalty,” the Italian coach said.

“I am receiving information from many people that there was clear contact between the Jagiellonia defender and our forward, and if there is contact, which is small or big, the penalty has to be awarded.

“It’s disappointing as it would have given us a big opportunity to score with only five minutes to go, but the referee surely penalised us on this occasion.”

Action doesn’t stop for the Spartans during this hectic spell, which saw them play six matches in two weeks, as on Sunday, they face Sliema Wanderers in an important league match, and Modica made his feelings clear on the congestion of fixtures.

“We need to enjoy the moment, albeit we are disappointed not to get a positive result,” Modica said.

“On Friday, we are back in Malta to start preparing for the match against Sliema Wanderers. Well done to whoever made the fixtures schedule because we will be playing the sixth match in two weeks. I can’t understand these decisions, as this match could have been played at a later date.

“But these are the regulations in Malta, and we have to adhere to them.”