Malta national team head coach Emilio De Leo has called on his players to show confidence, courage and character when they face Slovakia in an international friendly on Monday evening.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference alongside young forward Keyon Ewurum, De Leo acknowledged the challenge posed by the hosts but insisted Malta must remain focused on its own strengths and continue building on recent positive performances.
Malta will be without Irvin Cardona, who was forced to withdraw from the squad after suffering an injury during his clubโs league play-off match.
De Leo expects a difficult encounter against a Slovak side undergoing a period of transition following a recent coaching change.
โWhenever a new coach comes in, players are eager to impress and prove their worth,โ he said. โPlaying at home will also provide Slovakia with extra motivation, so we know we are facing a very competitive opponent.โ
Despite Slovakia’s higher ranking and quality, the Malta coach expressed confidence in his squad and stressed the importance of maintaining balance and belief throughout the match.
โWe are facing a strong team, but we also have talented players. The key is to stay organised, show our quality and approach the game with the right mentality.โ
Reflecting on Maltaโs recent performances, De Leo highlighted the memorable victory over Finland as an important milestone but noted that there were other matches where the team deserved more.
โThe win against Finland was a great achievement, but I also believe we produced very good performances in other matches, particularly against Poland. The objective is to continue progressing and building on the positive work we have done so far.โ
The Italian coach also praised Slovakiaโs quality, describing them as a side unfortunate not to have secured a place at the FIFA World Cup.
Asked what would constitute a successful performance, De Leo pointed to the attitude of his players rather than the final result.
โI want to see a team that is compact, balanced and confident. A team that never gives up, respects the opposition but is not afraid of them. If we show courage and belief in our abilities, I will be satisfied.โ
De Leo also underlined the importance of giving young players opportunities at international level, citing Ewurum as one of several emerging talents eager to make their mark in the national team setup.
โWe have a number of young players with great potential and the desire to prove themselves. These matches provide the perfect opportunity for them to continue their development.โ
For his part, Ewurum described the Slovakia friendly as an ideal test ahead of Maltaโs upcoming fixtures against Andorra and Gibraltar.
โThis match will help us prepare for the games ahead. We know our objectives and what is expected of us,โ the young forward said.
Ewurum added that the squad is fully focused on delivering a strong performance.
โWe want to give everything we have. If we manage to get a positive result, it would be a great reward for all the hard work we have put in.โ
Sports Editor
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