by San Gwann and Birkirkara will close off their first round commitments this evening at 20:30 at the Charles Abela Stadium. The two sides come into it separated by just two points, with Julian Camilleri and Billy Mock weighing in on the nuances in matches and the importance of a good performance tonight.
Balancing Objectives & Expectations
San Gwann head into their first fixture against Birkirkara as the two wrap up their first rounds with an opportunity to change the gap between them.
San Gwann earned their first point of the season last week, in a goalless draw against Valletta. Despite the score, it was a match where both sides had their opportunities, with Valletta arguably having the best opportunities in the match.
Considering that his team faired better against top four opposition and the side’s objectives of a top four finish this season, Julian Camilleri was asked for his view on the match.
Taking stock of his team’s performance, he said, “It was a match with many negative factors for us. Firstly, we took to the pitch partly relaxed but partly pressured to win and I don’t believe we gave our one hundred percent, which we simply cannot afford. Secondly some players weren’t in their best condition due to personal reasons. The third factor was that we made far too many mistakes in the final third. We created chances but didn’t take them and that is where you are punished.”
However, San Gwann’s coach also gave credit to the Citizens for their approach, “In addition, Valletta took to the pitch with a good attitude and they managed to keep us in check.”
Birkirkara mounted a resurgence in the second half against Mgarr United, becoming the first side to break down the Greens’ defence in the league. However, it was not enough to earn points on the night.
The impact of Gabriella Zahra’s introduction at half-time was immediate in earning the goal, but the midfielder’s presence was also critical in helping the side have more control in midfield.
Questioned on any second-thoughts about the starting eleven, Billy Mock replied that the plan was set all along. He said, “It’s simple, I leave Gabriella for the second half. I opt to start with a more dynamic midfield that can match Mgarr’s speedy players in midfield. Then, I blend the second half with an experienced player, such as Gabriella, when the opponents’ pace starts to slow down. It worked well in the second half. I feel that a draw with the leaders would have been a fair result in the end.”
Reflecting On Progress & Improvements
San Gwann’s targets of a top four have been met with a challenging start. Questioned on whether he feels the team is struggling in having a confident backline to truly push forward, due to the gap left by Nanako Kobayashi, Julian Camilleri weighed in, “Surely her presence is felt. However, I think we also haven’t shown our true potential. I think we are still helping the team truly utilise our system because one must consider that we had a lot of new players coming in during the summer.”
Meanwhile, Birkirkara have long been synonymous with trophies, but the side has undergone an overhaul in its squad, with the inexperience apparent in the team. Billy Mock was asked for his views on what he believes is necessary to close the gap to the top teams.
He replied, “This season, many thought that Birkirkara would be a walk-over to all the top teams. The results show a difference story. When one considers that from the glorious team of records, only three players are still in this new team, I am satisfied that we won respect back.”
As to what it will take to close the gap, he finished, “The key elements are the training sessions that my players believe in, and they all really work hard to improve. They also train with a fantastic attitude approach like a professional team.”
Match Expectations
Tonight’s match could be an enticing one with the two sides separated by just two points and also two sides who have struggled to find the net in general.
Julian Camilleri believes the path to this point for the two teams should offer a balanced match, “I think it will be balanced. We analysed a lot of situations we need to improve on from our match against Valletta and have worked hard in training. Before winning points, you must first have a good performance and minimise mistakes, then we can start thinking about points.”
His counterpart, Billy Mock, praised San Gwann’s growth when asked about his expectations from the match and the importance of a win to restore confidence in the side, “I respect all teams. San Gwann made giant steps, too. This makes the league more exciting. The ten-nil games are history. Therefore, we must play our best to win the three points, and yes, it will surely give us more confidence in our future games.”
The two teams will play their encounter at the Charles Abela Stadium at 20:30.
Lead Image: Nicholas Falzon / Maraya Gauci
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