Absence of Rashica and Brajan Gruda, Bushi: This is the strongest group I have had

2026-05-26 16:17:00, Sport CNA

Absence of Rashica and Brajan Gruda, Bushi: This is the strongest group I have

After publishing the list of players assembled for the two friendly matches against Slovenia U-21 and Italy U-21, the coach of the U-21 National Team, Alban Bushi, appeared at a press conference from the "House of Football".

The red and black coach commented on the list of players assembled, the state of the team, the next opponents and Albania U-21's preparations for the finals of the U-21 European Championship 2027. Coach Bushi also focused on the potential of the young players, and the team's objectives to continue the positive progress.

Below, coach Alban Bushi's full conference:

How satisfied are you with the players from the Albanian championship? – It's not that we have many players from the Albanian championship, as far as the U-21 National Team is concerned, because there are few. There are few, but the ones that are, are of quality. We have more from abroad. I would really like to have many players from the Albanian championship, because it is very important for us, we have them closer and we can follow them. But anyway, this is a generation that doesn't exist. There are very few born in 2004/2005 from the Albanian championship.

Are there any names from the list that could be ready for the A National Team? – Every player who is part of the U-21 and not only, but of all the National teams of all ages, definitely has the potential to be in the A team. We do not see the performance in the players, but we see more the potential that they have. Because with the performances, they are players who can change from match to match for many reasons. But everyone has potential. Then the best is the one who is the most dedicated, the most disciplined to reach higher, as others have achieved. We have sent many players from the U-21, from the U-19, etc. There have been many players who have gone to the A team. They have been very dedicated. I do not want to mention names, but almost 80% of the A National team are players who have been part of the Albanian ages.

Brajan Gruda? – As you know, we have been in contact with him for a while. The Technical Directorate has been in constant contact for 3-4 years. I have said it many times before that, if he is not part of Germany, the first option will be Albania. He is a player with a lot of potential, in terms of the qualities he has. He has qualities that not many people in our National team have, especially with the scheme that Silvinjo plays, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, he is very suitable. But with a scheme like the U-21 National Team plays, we would have a hard time knowing where he could fit in, because we play without a winger.

A është grupi aktual më i miri që ka pasur ndonjëherë Kombëtarja U-21? – Më kualitativi mendoj që nuk është, por është grupi më i fortë që ne kemi pasur ndonjëherë. Të gjitha moshat që ne kemi pasur kanë luajtur me zemër dhe me shpirt, por këta janë shumë kompaktë. Këta të bëjnë shumë krenarë me luftën që bëjnë dhe me atë që tregojnë në fushë. Të bëjnë shumë krenarë dhe të japin shumë shpresë. Pavarësisht se nuk kanë kualitetet e kundërshtarëve me të cilët ne kemi luajtur në vazhdimësi, kundërshtarë të mëdhenj, i kanë përballuar me shumë sukses. Edhe me Gjermaninë dhe Zvicrën jemi përballur si të barabartë, pavarësisht se Gjermania bëri diferencën në fund dhe na mundi me rezultatin 2-0. Është një grup që të bën krenar. Është gjë e bukur të punosh me ta dhe kam shumë shpresë që do të shkojë shumë mirë.

A ka pasur interes nga trajneri i Kombëtares A për lojtarët e U-21? – Do të donim që lojtarët e U-21 të mos na i merrnin, sepse edhe ne kemi një kompeticion shumë madhor. Gjithsesi, kam pasur kontakt me trajnerin e Kombëtares. Dje më ka pyetur për 2-3 lojtarë, sepse edhe ai ka disa mungesa, por ramë dakord që të mos t’i prekte lojtarët, sepse edhe ne kemi vështirësi në disa reparte, ku i kemi shumë të rëndësishëm. Nuk kemi shumë. Megjithatë, ka 2-3 lojtarë që ai mendon se në të ardhmen do t’i ketë pjesë të Kombëtares A. I njihte dhe më bëri pak habi, sepse janë ditët e para në Shqipëri. Është një trajner që sapo ka ardhur, por ka marrë informacionin e duhur si për lojtarët e Kombëtares A, ashtu edhe për lojtarët e Kombëtares U-21.

Sllovenia dhe Italia, si i shikon si kundërshtarë? – Sllovenia dhe Italia janë skuadra shumë të forta, kanë shumë kualitet. Italia pothuajse e ka të garantuar që do të jetë në Europian, ndërsa Sllovenia është në ato ujëra. Janë ekipe shumë të mira, me një fizik shumë të mirë, sidomos ekipi slloven. Janë lojtarë që kanë shumë minuta në këmbë. Kanë një grup pothuajse të plotë. Vijnë pas fitores 2-0 ndaj Norvegjisë. Është një ekip që luan në sulm, me shumë pasime, vjen gradualisht, por është një ekip shumë i rrezikshëm.

Ne kemi filozofinë tonë, që mbrohemi kompakt dhe rinisim nga kundërsulmi. Kjo do të jetë ideja e lojës sonë sa i përket gjithë ecurisë deri në Europian. Pavarësisht se është periudha e qershorit, që asnjë trajner nuk e preferon për të bërë ndeshje miqësore, pasi pothuajse 60-70% e lojtarëve e kanë mbaruar kampionatin dhe kanë dy javë që bëjnë stërvitje individuale, mendoj se një javë do të na mjaftojë. Do të kemi grumbullimin për të punuar sa më mirë taktikisht, për t’i përballuar sa më mirë këto dy ndeshje që janë shumë të rëndësishme për ne dhe shumë të forta.

Shkojmë me katër fitore në katër ndeshjet e fundit, si asnjëherë më parë me Kombëtaren U-21. Do të mundohemi ta ruajmë atë ritëm. Të luftojmë për gjithçka dhe t’i fitojmë të dyja ndeshjet.

Satisfied with the players this season? – I'm not very happy with the minutes they've had. Some are injured, some haven't played much. We meet every week with the U-21 staff and we've discussed that we'll use this squad we have not only for the two matches, but also to talk about their future because they need to find a team to play for. With so few minutes it's very difficult for them to face the teams in the European Championship. I think they're quality players and potential and they'll find clubs to play for. Some of them, because some are in very good clubs. It's known that the matches in the European Championship are once every 3 days and we need energetic players, with desire, to be physically optimal to play. In these two matches we don't have Rashica, who is injured, nor Gabriel Ramaj. I hope to have them in the next squad in September.

How happy are you with Maksut's transfer to Russia? – The Albanian championship is a good springboard to go abroad. Many players have gone abroad at this age. Maksut is a player with very good potential, a very good physical player, with very good aerial combat. The Russian championship gives you the opportunity to be active because he is not very popular with the big players in Europe. I think he will do well, as I have spoken to the people who took him there. He has received guarantees that he will play there and this is a good thing for him and for the U-21 and the A team. He is a player who can play for the A team in a few years.

Have you started preparations for the European finals next year? – Of course we are discussing it since we have a lot of time available. We have made our preparations, where we will gather, we have completed the friendlies that await us in September-October-November. We expect to complete them in March as well. We will do a 2-week gathering for the European.

How important is the U-21 European Championship 2027 for the image of Albania? – It is something very beautiful, I have said it other times. Not only U-21, but Albania has done very big things in football in recent years. Starting from the Conference League final in 2022, many tournaments are held in Albania, U-17 and U-19. Perfect organization on our part. If it were not for good organization, UEFA would not trust us with such an event. The U-17 European Championship and now the U-21 European Championship do not come easily if you do not organize well or do not give it the right trust. The U-21 European Championship is something very big, Albania is promoted in all aspects. There may also be financial benefits, Tirana but also other cities where the matches will be organized. It is a motivation for young players, who will see very big players. Germany, France, Spain will come with players aged 23-24. It will be a pleasure to see them up close as well. A pleasure for us who will be participating as well.