by Hibernians and Mgarr United promise another thrilling encounter tonight at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, 20:30. Kenneth Costantino’s side will be keen to return to winning ways but continue to battle an array of lengthy injuries. Meanwhile, Mgarr United set sights on capitalising and pushing for a first win over the Paolites this season to close down the gap to their rivals.
Opposing Trajectories
While the top of the table clashes between Swieqi United and Birkirkara generate plenty of buzz, encounters between Hibernians and Mgarr United have always been meaty tussles with arguably the most goal-thrilling action. There is a healthy rivalry between the two sides who are reluctant to give an inch in their battles.
No Respite For Hibernians
Hibernians’ last win came at the expense of the Greens, but they have since fallen to Birkirkara and most recently to Swieqi United. The Paolites took to the pitch with a drastically different system, which Kenneth Costantino conceded had a lot to do with the injuries sustained by Nicole Sciberras and Zeeyana Jivraj, “Yes we tried something different against Swieqi because we had both Nicole and Zeeyana missing. Unfortunately whilst other teams continued to bring in foreigners or recovered players, we lost two key assets. Unfortunately that’s the nature of the game. We just tried to make the best out of the situation.”
Probed about the condition of their summer signing, goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj, Hibernians’ coach revealed, “Zeeyana has returned to the US to receive treatment. Whilst she was operated on in Malta, the operation did not really have the desired result. For her wellbeing we decided that it was best to allow her to be treated abroad.”
Costantino suggested that retreating attacker Leah Ayres into a defensive role had more to it than just covering Swieqi United’s pace out front, “The aims behind playing Leah at the back were multiple.” However, Costantino also alluded to the strong start displayed by his team and lamented the opportunities lost, “To be honest I think that during the first half we had a number of opportunities to score, but if you squander them, teams like Birkirkara and Swieqi will punish you. Of course there were tactical implications to such choices, but the end result was not what we wished for.”
Greens On The Rise
On the other hand, Mgarr United have come out swinging since their loss to Hibernians, with a win over Swieqi United and a draw against leaders Birkirkara. Mgarr United’s Patrick Curmi praised the team’s performance against the league leaders, “I’m really proud of our team’s performance. We held our own against a formidable team, and with a bit more focus, a win was certainly within reach.”
Asked to respond to Jose’ Borg’s comments on his team’s time-wasting tactics, Mgarr United’s coach responded, “It’s important to note that football naturally includes some delays. In our case, many of these interruptions were due to our players needing treatment after receiving some harsh tackles. It’s also worth mentioning that many decisions during the game seemed to favor Birkirkara, which was challenging for us. Despite this, our focus remains on the game itself, and not on decisions that may or may not go our way.”
Meanwhile, the decisions made by the coaching staff since taking over the team have in some ways perhaps asked players to sacrifice some of their strengths for the greater good of the team. Asked about whether the recent points have ensured that players are more on-board with the approach, Mgarr United’s coach replied, “Our recent performances have indeed been a collective effort, where every player contributes to the greater good of the team. This philosophy is central to our strategy and the players have embraced it wholeheartedly. The results against Swieqi and B’Kara underscore this commitment.”
Looking ahead, the coach concluded, “Our focus now is not just on the league standings but on maintaining a strong and positive performance in every game. This approach is crucial as we build towards a successful end to the season and start planning for the next one.”
Expecting The Unexpected
While recent form has the Greens on the rise, they are yet to beat Hibernians this season. The Paolites won the last two encounters, while the two teams shared the points in their opening fixture in a six-goal thriller.
Meanwhile, the two teams have continued to adapt and change their systems, with some changes more forced than others. Whatever the case, it makes the two sides highly unpredictable leading into the match, despite the previous encounters.
The two coaches were probed on what they deem to be crucial in being able to still come out on top when facing such changes, which in a sense may render any prepared tactical instructions obsolete.
Kenneth Costantino weighed in, “At this stage wins are just the end result. Whilst we always aim to win, we also need to identify how players react to different formations, positions and tactical approaches. To win games you need an array of qualities. Whilst technical qualities are always an asset, game understanding and physiological elements might be turning points. However, the self-belief, discipline and commitment by all the team are fundamental aspects which will give a team the edge.”
His counterpart responded, “In football, adaptability is key, especially when facing teams like Hibernians and Swieqi United, known for their unpredictable tactics. Our strategy involves being prepared to adjust our system even mid-game. The dedication and effort our players show every day, from training to match day, is what I ask for. Continuous improvement is our goal, and the recent matches have shown that we are moving in the right direction. With the level of performance we’ve been displaying, I am confident in our ability to secure a win in our upcoming matches.”
The onus will be on Mgarr United to grab a first victory over Hibernians in an effort to close a five-point gap to two. However, despite injury woes, Hibernians will not lie down so quickly.
The two will kick-off proceedings at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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