Spotlight: Raina Giusti

Raina Giusti is no stranger to the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL). This year will mark the ten-year anniversary from her first appearance in the competition, where she debuted at just sixteen years of age. Since then, she has made a total of fifteen appearances in the Champions League, is the club’s highest goalscorer in the competition with three goals and has also assisted a few more along the way.

The Sporting Fan caught up with Giusti to discuss her trajectory from assisting a goal in the first appearance, to scoring her first goal in the competition and beyond. We discussed the team’s growth along the way, their fight to improve results and what it meant to kick-start that comeback in the historic victory against Glentoran FC, after just two minutes on the pitch. Finally, we set sights on this year’s competition and the team’s aim to build on last year’s result.

First Appearances and First Goals in the UWCL

Raina Giusti debuted in the competition in 2013 at sixteen years old and played in all three matches against Twente (L 6-0), Glasgow (L 9-0) and Osijek (L 7-1). Despite the losses, the match against Osijek saw Giusti grab an assist by setting up Gabriella Zahra who scored the goal for Birkirkara. 

Eleanor Saliba (ES): What do you remember about your first experience in the UEFA Women’s Champions League?

Raina Giusti (RG): It was a difficult experience in that we were suffering a lot of goals and that the level was very high. However, despite the difficulty there was a special feeling. Though I had already travelled with the national squad, it was my first time going abroad with the club, so having that experience with the teammates was nice. I remember playing against Twente in their stadium and there was a really good crowd of people watching us which was a fantastic feeling. Even though the supporters were against us, playing in that atmosphere was brilliant. Capping off the appearances by getting the assist to Gabi (Gabriella Zahra), so that we got a goal back against Osijek, makes me proud of my first year in the competition.

Following that year, Hibernians took the title for three years, but Birkirkara returned to the UWCL in 2017/18. They faced Olimpija Ljublijana, FC Minsk and notably Zurich, who they could face again this year if they win the encounter against ZFK Breznica.

ES:  How did it feel to go back into the competition in 2017/18?

RG: Minsk and Zurich were very strong, but the match against Olimpija Ljublijana was extremely tight and a very particular match which I will never forget. I remember we were playing in the stadium (Stozice Stadium) and while playing the first half it was sunny but then this huge cloud appeared so we were sure it was going to rain. As soon as we were walking out from the tunnel following half-time we see it absolutely pouring, but we went on with the game. The ball was not even moving properly on the pitch and we were absolutely drenched. Then, to make things worse there was a power cut mid-way, so we stopped playing for ten minutes. I remember everyone sliding around, it was very particular. Unfortunately, we conceded the goal very late (90+3) but the match was an unforgettable one.

ES:  Considering the gap from your first year in the competition, you had also started to mature more as a player and also as a team you changed quite a bit too…

RG: Yes, it was different. By that point I was starting matches whereas in the first year, for example, I came off the bench against Twente. Even as a team you improve collectively and we also had a different coach in Melania Bajada. All of these things make a difference.

Raina Giusti scored her maiden goal the year after, when the team earned their first points in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff Met in 2018/19. Giusti equalised for 1-1 in the 27^th minute. Ylenia Carabott scored the other goal to secure the 2-2 draw.

ES: How did it feel to notch your first goal in the competition against Cardiff Met?

RG: I honestly do not think you can describe the feeling… The opponents are so strong in the competition that it is very easy to lose that belief that you can do it. However, then you find that will to try and when you manage, it’s absolute elation. The moral improves across the team and to be able to get that draw as a team was a special feeling. Of course, personally there is also that feeling of satisfaction that you could find the net against a stronger opponent and then you always aim higher to score the next goal.

Giusti and Carabott seemed to have settled into an interesting pattern as they both scored again the year after against Wexford Youths. Giusti scored on the stroke of half-time to reduce the deficit to 2-1. A strong opening to the second half saw Wexford Youths race to a 4-1 lead, before Carabott closed the gap to 4-2. Late goals made for a 7-2 win to Wexford Youths. That year, Birkirkara had strong showings against top seed Vllaznia (L 1-0) and hosts Gintra Universitetas (L 1-0).

Navigating Difficult Matches in Foreign Territory

ES: Considering these matches, where perhaps as a forward you are not really getting goalscoring opportunities so frequently, how different is your mindset in the game?

RG: It is different, because even as an attacker your role changes completely. The match itself is completely different, the players are different, the physicality is different and the style of play you encounter is completely different. Even as an attacker, if you are playing a team that is stronger than you, your mindset is defensive so it is about falling back to aid the team. Whereas in Malta we can press high and be compact to win the ball high up the pitch, playing against teams of a certain calibre in the UWCL means that they are too quick and it would expose you to a lot of goals so you have to adjust.

As an attacker, having less possession as a team also means that you can get a bit detached from the rest. At times even if the ball makes it toward you, if the team is still trying to get up the pitch, you may not be able to make much of it before the opponent takes the ball back. So, you need to make sure that you make the most of the chance you get.

ES: Going to the Champions League often involves travelling to a foreign country with sometimes a completely different climate and also setup to what we have in Malta. Do you find this easy to adjust to?

RG: I am not sure whether I would say it is an advantage or a disadvantage to go to a colder climate, because though for example it may be less hot than here you still need to adjust to it. It’s a change in the routine for us because you suddenly go from working in a full-time job and then training after, to being completely dedicated to football. In one way for some it can be difficult, but in a way, I would say for us it is much better: train, eat, drink and play football. It’s the dream.

ES: What is something that perhaps you notice which is often overlooked by someone who has not played in that professional environment before?

RG: I think there are little details which may seem superficial but make a difference. The fact that you have time to fully dedicate your mind to a match from a day before is an advantage and a luxury we do not have when playing in the league in Malta. We go to play a match after a day of work. There are also little things that single out a professional side. These teams would have sometimes more technical staff than players on a team. Even looking at them coming into a match wearing the same outfit, bags and boots, shows a certain professionalism. Though it sounds simple or maybe extra to some, it adds another level of intimidation to fight against mentally.

ES: How important is that experience of playing against these opponents, to get to the point of drawing matches and ultimately reaching that goal of winning the match against Glentoran FC?

RG: There is a lot of hard work and sacrifice that goes into it. Considering that we are not professional in the traditional sense of the word, there is a lot of sacrifice to work a full-time job and then go to training every single day, for no remuneration. However, that prospect of having the opportunity to play in the Champions League, to earn that extra challenge to improve as a football player, is a good motivator to win the league.

Unfortunately, because of the small pool of players in the local league, you learn the traits of opponents and that means that after playing for more than ten years I would say you get used to the level and can plateau out. Playing in the Champions League sets you against players with different styles and level, which enables you to improve further.

For example, if you consider the 7-2 loss versus Wexford Youths against the fact that you always want to win the match, perhaps that goal does not count for much by itself. However, as a team we were always making the most to improve. As a forward, it is about making the most of the opportunities you get and each goal gives you more belief that you can do it again. As a team we collectively improve bit by bit each year and even in the face of perhaps some big defeats you try to find ways in what you could have done better to improve.

The team continued making appearances in the UWCL even amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020/21, the team narrowly lost 2-1 against Olimpija Cluj with Alishia Sultana grabbing the goal for the Stripes. The following year they showed an improved performance in the repeat encounter against Glasgow City (L 3-0), before suffering a 1-0 defeat after extra time to Slovan Bratislava.

Following a two-year goal drought, Raina Giusti found the net again in the historic 2-1 victory against Glentoran FC. Giusti drew level after being on the pitch for just two minutes to cancel Glentoran FC’s opener, before Charlene Zammit got the winner around ten minutes later.

ES: Your goal against Glentoran set the team on the way to the first victory, but perhaps it was also special because of how quickly you scored it. You were substituted in following the half-time break and scored within two minutes of being on the pitch. Can you describe those few minutes on the pitch from your perspective?

RG: I’ll be honest, before the match I had this feeling that I wanted to score, that I wanted to make an impact because I had not been able to play in the first match. As to the moments on the pitch, I remember I passed to Gabi (Gabriella Zahra) and ran forward into the box. She passed to Gaia (Milan) who crossed the ball. I remember thinking I’m going to try to just head this goalward, and it went in. It was a great feeling because I had a good season the year before, so to go in the pitch when we are losing and score within such a short space of time to get the team level was the best feeling. Of course, things went even better when Charlene (Zammit) got the second.

ES: Can you describe what it meant to bring home a positive result after all those years of slowly grinding out small improvements?

RG: I think after all those years it was a great feeling, but in all honesty, I do not think you can describe what it means. All I can say is that it increases the hunger to repeat that positive result and go a step further this year.

ES: Which would you say is your favourite goal/performance in the competition thus far?

RG: Without a doubt, the match against Glentoran. To go into the match at half-time and score within the two minutes was special and then the fact we won the match made it even more special. The first goal I scored (the one against Cardiff Met) was of course also important and I had also gotten the draw then. It was important to me as a way of confirming I was growing as a player.

Setting Sight On This Year’s Competition

ES: This year will mark the ten-year anniversary from your first appearance in the UWCL. What does it feel like to achieve this milestone considering that you juggle playing football with a full-time job?

RG: Everything changes over ten years and today I have more responsibilities of course. However, despite these challenges I would say I have also found ways to grow as a player and continue to work towards more with each year. Ultimately, there are always ways you can improve.

ES: What are your goals going into this year’s fixtures?

RG: The aim remains the same, hopefully I can score a goal and help the team win. As a team we always aim to get to the next step. Having won that fixture against Glentoran last year, we want to make the next step to go to win the match against Breznica and then try to get the result against Zurich to progress to round two of the competition. It is difficult because both are good teams, but we shall do our best.

ES: This year you will be playing the competition on home soil. How important will it be to have the crowd in support on the day as you aim to make it to the final fixture against Zurich and back-to-back victories in UWCL?

RG: I think the fact that we are hosting is a great opportunity for people to come support us, not just as Birkirkara, but as a Maltese team. Hopefully, it will be a positive to get more people involved in the game and bigger crowds in the league. Having that home support is really important and we will do our best to bring home a result.

The Sporting Fan would like to thank Raina Giusti for her time to bring you this feature. Birkirkara will play their semi-final encounter against ZFK Breznica this Wednesday (6th September) at 6 pm at the Centenary Stadium. Tickets may be bought online or from Intersport Malta.

Lead Image: Brandon Bonett / Birkirkara FC.

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