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Vllaznia takes to the field against the Icelanders/ Martini: We have a physically strong team

2025-07-23 16:36:00, Sport CNA

Vllaznia takes to the field against the Icelanders/ Martini: We have a

After the important qualification in the first round of the Conference League, Vllaznia will take the field against the Icelandic Vikingur in the second round. The first match will be played in Shkodër on the evening of July 24. Before this challenge, Vllaznia coach Edi Martini appears down to earth, saying that the Icelanders are favorites for qualification, but the red and blues, according to the Shkodër coach, will try to get the most out of this match.

"It's a qualification that pleased us and was a must for us. We achieved it even though it was with great difficulty. When you qualify in this way, the emotions are great, but the satisfaction is also great. I want to say bravo to the boys for these two matches they played and we will continue forward. Naturally, it's a different match. We have a very strong team physically, they are in the best phase of the championship and it's not for nothing that they are in first place. Three days ago they had a match with Valur, despite suffering a loss, they played well even though they were missing a player. They came to Shkodra on Monday, which shows their fear of us. Even though I know they are more favorites than us to pass this round, but we will do our best to move forward. We are better every day, improving. However, I have some concerns because Qato will not be there tomorrow, which is a big loss for us, let's also see Sala because he has a fever and is in the hospital receiving serum and I hope he gets better. There are the absences important even though we have 25 players where everyone who entered the second half in Latvia gave their best. With the Latvian team we were better and despite this they endangered our qualification. I am sure that the Icelanders do not have that difference with us that the Latvians had and we are focused on this match and I hope that we will give our best. They are favorites, but that does not mean that we will not fight to get through the round. I can not say the same about the young players who have arrived until the day of the match because we have to see their condition. Normally it requires adaptation the way they have come to the team and we will decide at the last second who will play because those who will be on the field and I want them to be physically and psychologically ready to face the match. Bismark has been in Albania for a while and he is good. The German goalkeeper comes to a different, warmer climate here and has not yet acclimatized but I believe that he will help us a lot and we will decide in the end whether he plays or not "No," says Martini.

Vllaznia does not enter the field surrendered, says coach Martini.

"Absolutely not, but the recent results against these teams have left a bad taste. Even with Valur last year, but also Egnatia who was eliminated, but I trust the boys who will give their maximum. This is important, then the result is also a matter of luck and luck should be with us. Vllaznia must try to win the match despite not being the favorites. There are many things that make us go onto the field to win because they had a difficult match 3 days ago, it is the journey they have made and the weather conditions that are a disadvantage for them. We will try for a victory tomorrow, but a very careful victory because we cannot go on an adventure because we need both matches to reach the qualification and we will do our best and we hope that God will be with us. I am pleased that we justified a qualification round and this also for the fans and I think there will be many in the stadium because those who are fans love the team both on good days and on bad days. Of course I have emotion. Being the coach of Vllaznia and being a guy who grew up in Shkodër and who these fans have always respected is a pleasure to be the coach of Vllaznia, but also a great responsibility for me and I will do my best to achieve those dreams that the fans have. We have a long way to go. We will keep our heads down and we will not bother to answer people. The best answer to the critics is for us to work harder because when they criticize us they put our feet on the ground and make us work even harder. Of course the transfer market is open. We have worked during this time to achieve the objectives we have in the European Cups, we achieved one and now we see. The main focus is to complete the team for the championship that is going to be very fierce this year. We have made some purchases and there are some others that will strengthen the team even more. We have been careful not to make mistakes and we will try to be as "We are careful that all the players who come are efficient. Naturally, I feel sorry for Dodajn because he scored and gave an assist in Latvia, playing an excellent match and he is a missing value for us. Jazxhi was injured the day before the match and we had our hopes that he would help us, but fate did not allow it. These are important absences. I also had Gjinin as a player in Durrës and he did a very good job. With the 45 minutes he played, he justified it very well and I trust that player because he has very good qualities", said coach Martini.

The most optimistic about a positive result for Vllaznia against Vilingur is striker Balaj, who also holds the captain's armband.

"Of course it's an important match. We managed to get through the first round with its own difficulties, but now we return to Shkodër and play at "Loro Boriçi" and the presence of the fans will be a great boost for us and we hope that we will succeed. Of course, qualifying in Latvia increases enthusiasm, confidence, although we had confidence despite the fact that in Elbasan we got a bad result and we showed it in the second match by managing to turn it around. Now Vikingur is a different opponent, they are in the championship now and are active with minutes, pace and matches and this probably favors them, but the confidence of the guys is great and we will try. We know that last year they lost 0-3 to another Icelandic team, but that match was two-faced because we played well there and then lost in Shkodër. It's a completely different story because we are playing in the second round and we are coming after an important qualification. We have tried to bring in quality players and we have welcome and we hope that they will serve us and provide the help that the team has been lacking. The desire is great for this match, the confidence is also great and we will try everything to achieve it. It is the first match and we must be careful because qualification is achieved with two matches. We will try, also with the help of the fans, to get a positive result in Shkodra so that it will be easier for us in the second match. Regarding Dodaj's departure, I take this opportunity to greet him and congratulate him for this move he has made. He has had the support of everyone, he is a valuable guy and has shown himself during his time at Vllaznia and we wish him well and I hope to see him as high as possible", said Balaj. /CNA