by Andorra’s draw against Malta raised several emotions on both sides. Albert Panadero and Erica Goncalves expressed their joy with the point. Panadero & Manuela Tesse discussed the aggressive nature of Andorra, while Malta’s coach elaborated on the lessons from the match. Oceane Grange & Stephania Farrugia gave the view from the defence, hitting the post and returning to play after nine months on the sidelines.
Historic Point For Andorra, Malta Remain Unbreached
The dust has settled on another UEFA Women’s Nations League group stage with Andorra concluding it with a first point against a changed Malta, following the latter’s confirmed promotion in the penultimate game.
Erica Goncalves was elated by the point, highlighting the growth of the side since the first UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign against a side as strong as Malta, “I think all the team is happy with that point. We lost by 5-0 in the first UEFA Women’s Nations League, in the first match of this Nations League we lost 1-0 and today we got a draw. Step by step we are growing. Malta is an excellent team and we’re proud to get positive results against teams like Malta.”
Despite hitting the post through Maria Ruzafa, Albert Panadero was also happy with the point, “I’m really happy, mainly with the way we got a draw and the emotion put into the performance. To look into the eyes of a team like Malta and get a draw is very positive for us.”
On the other hand, Malta’s positive was in the form of another clean sheet. Oceane Grange formed part of the defence, with the defender happy to keep the Andorrans at bay though wishing to have made more from her strike which hit the crossbar.
Grange weighed in, “I am very happy with the clean sheet because this gives us the platform to go on and win matches. However, of course we want to win matches, so we want to also score. After the shot hit the bar I was thinking maybe I needed to put less power or shift my body, but it’s moments like that which can be crucial. Perhaps had that goal gone in we would win, or even score more. It was still in the first half which could have change things, but it is what it is.”
On the other hand, the defender summed up the debut campaign in a Maltese shirt, “I am very grateful for this experience. I am very thankful for the confidence given to me by the coaching staff and the team because their support has made me feel really at home and like I’ve been playing with the team for a very long time.”
Was Andorra Too Aggressive Or Did Malta Lose Its Head?
The match grew into a heated affair as tackles flew from the Andorrans who were unafraid to make their presence a nuisance at all costs and disrupt any rhythm to Malta’s play.
However, Albert Panadero rejected that his team was unsportsmanlike in the approach, “This extra point of intensity and aggressiveness are part of our identity but always in sportive terms, never with the aim of going beyond. We demand that our players give the one-hundred and fifty percent if we want to compete against teams of the level of Malta.”
On the other hand, questioned if she thought Andorra were just aggressive or if it crossed a line, Manuela Tesse remarked, “This is the style of Andorra, they are very aggressive. We didn’t have any help from the referee because the officials must be much more in control when you have this kind of game. I think my players were scared to get injured and luckily no one did.”
Questioned on whether she felt the team lost their heads against the approach, Tesse remarked, “No, but we allowed it to affect us. The attitude when playing these kinds of matches is the one that Stephania (Farrugia) showed, and what Yulya (Carella) showed when she came on. You must fight, if you are scared you could get injured. We are lucky nothing happened, but the problem was that we fell into the rhythm of Andorra instead of managing to raise the level to our own.”
Manuela Tesse also conceded that there was fatigue and a psychological switch following the confirmed promotion after the win against Cyprus, which she believes played a part, “I think the players who played on Friday were tired and of course mentally the team took this a bit for-granted because the promotion had been secured. It is expected that the focus goes down.”
Did Andorra Show Areas For Improvement For Malta?
Malta’s Manuela Tesse was visibly disappointed with the draw, which dashed hopes of a five win streak. In February Manuela Tesse suggested the narrower victory against Andorra was more of a result of Malta’s poorer gameplay. Posed once more a question of whether Andorra provided a different test to Cyprus & Georgia in forcing more creativity from Malta to create opportunities, Malta’s coach rejected this.
Tesse replied, “We played a completely different team today. The players who went in did a good job, but if you look at the players who played across the tournament we must be realistic of the level you must attain to get the results. Players need to be ready and I hope it is clear that we need to grow more as a group in general.”
Pushed on whether as a coach she feels the compromise on the result is worth it to understand the areas where those on the fringes may need to be supported to improve for the long-term, Manuela Tesse is expecting players to make more of the time spent with coaches, but hoping the opportunity stimulates action.
She said, “Yes, but we have spent a lot of time with them. We spent three weeks coaching the whole group, so I think they need to realise that they need to push more. My intention here is not to criticise players, but more to stimulate them into action.”
The Sardinian also called on those more experienced in the group to be more leading, “In a match like today I also hope leaders of the group, the experienced players, realise that in matches like this they need to take the team on their shoulders and show the way.”
Positives In Return For Stephania Farrugia
Andorra’s faithful witnessed a historic point, but there was another positive for Malta as well. Stephania Farrugia returned to the pitch with a full ninety minutes under her belt following her recovery from an ACL injury.
Manuela Tesse heaped praise on the defender, “I was happy with the defence and extremely happy for Steph. She was the best player on the pitch today and after one ACL to play a full official game is a big thing. It’s good to have another player back with us.”
Stephania Farrugia reflected on the performance, “The recovery was tough mentally and physically. There were several people who helped me through it. I wasn’t sure that I’d go in and play in the manner that I played, because I think there’s always that little fear of getting injured again. However, I am happy with the performance and to have fought for every ball and to play the match fully. I truly thank the coaches for their support and belief, it’s a joy to be back with the team.”
There are still several players on the sidelines nursing ACL and other injuries for Malta but the return bodes well for the island with another player back in the fold following Janice Xuereb’s return earlier in the year.
Lead Image: Andorra FA
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