by Mgarr United and Mtarfa will kick-off today’s double-header at Mgarr Ground at 14:00. The Greens will search for a confident victory, while Mtarfa attempt to get their season off and running.
Return From International Break
The two teams will make their first return from the international break. Mgarr United broke off their commitments with a 4-1 victory to brush off any potential challenge from fifth-placed Valletta. Meanwhile, Mtarfa succumbed to a 10-0 defeat against Birkirkara.
Mgarr United’s assistant coach Neville Cassar acknowledged that the international break came at a good time to recover some aspects, but that it was not enough to recover all woes, “The international break helped us to gain more training time that helped players like Leanne Cefai to get match fit. However, unfortunately we still have players that will not feature in tomorrow’s match because of injury.”
Mtarfa did not seem to fair much better either, with the team manager Mario Formosa replying, “The situation with injuries possibly got worse as we lost two more players due to injury during the international break.”
The points-drought the team find themselves in seems to be weighing heavy on the dressing room. In fact, asked about whether there will be any new systems or tactical changes, the team manager suggested that the break was spent more on regrouping the team. Formosa said, “During this tough period, the best thing to do was to focus on the group’s bonding rather than to push on tactical innovations. We need that all people that make part of the Mtarfa clan start to believe in each other.”
Match Expectations
The fact that Swieqi United and Hibernians dropped points against each other yesterday will put an extra spring in the step of the Mgarr United camp, knowing that a win will get them within one point of the Owls.
Asked whether the fact that Mtarfa find themselves at the bottom of the table will open the door for fringe players to get more minutes, Mgarr United’s Neville Cassar responded, “We will play for the three points like we do against other opponents. We want to play good football and we will be focused to do that independently from who will be fielded to play.”
Meanwhile, Mtarfa eye this match with the knowledge that they next face a direct confrontation against San Gwann. Mario Formosa said, “We really hope to have a good performance against Mgarr United, so we can carry positive things to the San Gwann game.”
The game begins at 14:00 at Mgarr Ground. It will be followed by Valletta and Lija Athletic which begins at 16:30.
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