Marsaxlokk ready for tough test against Pyunik in UEFA Conference League

Marsaxlokk will make their return to a UEFA club competition on Thursday evening when they take on Armenian side Pyunik in the first qualifying round of the Conference League at the Centenary Stadium (kick-off: 7pm).

The Southerners are bracing themselves for a tough test against the experienced Armenian side, and coach Enzo Potenza is urging his players to focus on their game and try to bring home a positive result ahead of next week’s second leg.

“We are trying to prepare ourselves in the best possible way for the match,” Potenza told Times of Malta.

“We are just back from a training camp in Slovakia and trying to adapt to the weather conditions here. Pyunik is a team with great tradition and who has a lot of experience in playing in UEFA club competitions.

“From the little research we made on them, they are very well-trained side who possess some very talented players.

“They are very aggressive and are physically very strong so we need to be really cautious.”

Potenza said that the past few days have been very important to keep the players together and amalgamate them into a strong unit.

“As soon as we returned from the training camp, the priority was to try and recover all our energies for this match,” Potenza said.

“The training camp was great as it helped us to bring this group of players together and transform them into a united group.

“Our main goal is to build on what we achieved last season and help the club target higher objectives.

“I am pleased to say that the president and the club have provided us with everything we needed and it’s up to us to try and achieve more than we did in the past.”

Potenza said that against Pyunik every little detail will turn out to be decisive to try and bring home a positive result.

“These matches many times are decided by little episodes or small mistakes that can turn out to be very costly,” the Italian coach said.

“It’s crucial that the players take the pitch with maximum concentration. This team has been on an upward trajectory for the past two years.

“Last season, we went on to play the Premier League final but now is the time to take the next step.

“I want the players to be focused but at the same time be free to express themselves on the field of play. We know that we have great potential in the squad and we need to show on the pitch.”