by Valletta and San Gwann will return to action for a direct battle for fifth at Dingli Ground at 14:00. With the gap between the two teams having been closed this season, Jean Lopes & Julian Camilleri gave their view on the teams’ trajectory as they prepare for more confrontations, while discussing transfer strategies and the beginning of the climax to their season battle.
Managing Transitions
Valletta and San Gwann will be taking to the pitch in Dingli Ground knowing that they could end the second round in fifth place. Separated by just two points, the two have had very different trajectories to get to this point, with each club on their own path.
San Gwann are on the ascendency, with the team having earned their first point against the Citizens in the first round. They will be keen on converting them to three in this match, knowing it would send them into the second phase with a five point lead over Valletta. However, Valletta will be equally hungry for the three points will pip them into fifth place ahead of the final phase.
Having dominated the bottom four last year, there was a lot of expectation on Valletta at the beginning of the season on their ability to dislodge one of the established top four teams. However, these dimmed with time, with factors on and off the pitch reflecting into a sixth-placed finish thus far. Despite this, the side had a good reaction to going a goal down against Birkirkara just before the break.
Although the side ebbed away across the entire ninety minutes, that reaction was an indicator of a different mentality in the team. It prompts plenty of wonder as to whether there will be more of it as the team fights to retain their crown as the top team of the bottom four.
Valletta’s Jean Lopes described the match, “The game against Birkikara was an interesting game where we managed to perform well for a while and when we play against big teams we take the opportunity to learn and mature.”
Questioned on the impact of such matches into handling the next phase, he continued, “We know that this season the fight for the top spot is more difficult because the other teams have strengthened and we have had many losses. However, we will continue working hard to be able to finish the season in the best possible way.”
Indeed, San Gwann have been among the most positive stories of the season. Into his second full season in charge of the team, Julian Camilleri was probed about the main areas of growth for the team to get to this stage and for some insight into the dreams that the club has for the future.
He said, “As a club, I am certain that we are being mentioned more, and we’ve made big strides in earning points and moving up the table in these two years. We’ve gotten higher quality players and now we are also featuring in the top scorers’ sheet. We achieved our aim last season, to get sixth place. This year we want to get fifth place, which is the highest we can get for this season.”
Indeed, the team finds itself with Hailey Russell leading the scorer boards, tied with Mgarr United’s Yulya Carella, on sixteen goals. Chaimaa Tourki has grabbed seven goals, while also being among the crucial creators in the team. A side which up to two seasons ago struggled to find a handful of goals in a season, and leaked goals against most teams, has considerably improved its goal difference while even ruining clean sheets for the top four sides this year.
On Building Squads To Challenge The Top Sides
Valletta’s season has been among the most topsy-turvy ones. The squad was depleted of the three Brazilian players Eduarda Martins Souza, Andressa de Souza Ramos and Marcelle de Oliveira Julio mid-way through the first phase, with things becoming more bleak over time. Summer signing Fatou Cisse did not get to a handful of appearances, while the team also lost key players in Francesca Bartolo, Miriana Conti, Sarah Vella Barberi and Georgiana Mifsud, among others.
Despite departures, Valletta have welcomed a few youngsters as well over the summer, including Gabriella Grima, who has become their mainstay between the posts. Heading into January and with a bottom four table that has been quite tight, Valletta’s trajectory was certainly one that was questioned. However, Valletta seem to have been busy in the interim, with four signing announcements in four days.
The team announced the signature of Leona Carabott from Hibernians on Thursday. The club backed up Carabott’s transfer news with the announcement of three French players yesterday, in Lilou Lucas, Lucie Lucas and Oriane Le Gouez.
Despite challenges faced, Jean Lopes confirmed that Valletta’s target of becoming a top contender remains and that he believes these players are among the building blocks that he is determined to build into a future force, “Yes, I truly believe that all these young talented players will be the basis of our team for a long time to fight for the top four.”
Questioned about nurturing local players, Jean Lopes replied, “It is already part of our DNA to develop athletes. We have always been known to give opportunities to young players, because we know that they are the future of Malta. Just like Gabriella, we have several young players who are fundamental pieces for our team and we are always very happy when other young talents want to join us, as is the case with Leona.”
On the other hand, San Gwann find themselves in a strong position and having a striker among the top scorers in the league will be crucial for their goal of dominating their bracket. Julian Camilleri suggested that his team is looking to hold onto their players this January, with a lack of desire to disrupt the boat with new signings.
He said, “Our plan at the beginning of the season was to start with a good squad of players, to improve together and finish the season together. We were not planned to add more players for this season mid-way through it. We have a system that is working for us and we want to consolidate on this. If I change things now, I will have to start again. We will speak about next year down the line.”
Still Searching The First Three Points
The two teams had to settle for a draw in the first round, with a match that panned out in very much a tale of two halves. Valletta had plenty of attacking momentum in the first half, but struggled to earn a commanding lead, which they rued in the second half. On their part, San Gwann earned the equaliser but did not manage to convert further despite having control in the second half.
Having not dropped a single point against San Gwann last season, Jean Lopes is aware that his team is facing a stronger San Gwann side this year. “San Gwann came into this season with a very interesting team and today they have one of the top scorers in the championship. In the first game, we failed to convert our goal opportunities.”
However, Lopes is calling on his team to start the calendar year with a strong statement, “We know our current limitations, but we have players with a lot of personality and we are working hard. As always, we will try to maintain our game rhythm and seek victory as always.”
Julian Camilleri was clear that his side is yearning for their first three points against the Citizens, “I respect Valletta a lot as a club. However, our target is one, to earn the three points and go into the final phase with a deserved gap to the team below us.”
The stage is set for another direct confrontation and if the first match is anything to go by, one can expect plenty of heart on the pitch. The two teams kick-off at 14:00 at Dingli Ground, with the match to be followed by the encounter between Birkirkara and Mtarfa, starting at 16:30.
Lead Images: Lara Schembri
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