Nothing less than a win for determined HSK Zrinjski
HSK Zrinjksi head coach Ante Mise remarked that his side are here to win against Valletta’s and advance further into the UEFA Europa League competition.
“We are well prepared and are here to win and move on in this competition. We missed many chances in the first leg in Mostar and you cannot do so at this level of football.
“Of course I was surprised with our opponents Valletta who snatched a draw in the dying moments of the match but have quality players like Miguel Alba, Santiago Malano, Matteo Piciollo and of course their goal getter Mario Fontanella who got the Valletta goal.
“Of course a deterrent for us will be the synthetic pitch as we are not used to play on this type of playing surface.”
Mise also jokingly remarked that the has already visited Malta on two more winning occasions, once with Hajduk Split who played Birkirkara in the UEFA Europe League in 2008 and then as Croatia assistant national team coach in 2015.
“I hope to continue on this winning streak against Valletta,” smiled Mise.
HSK Zrinjski are the national champions of Bosnia Herzegovina but suffered the same early fate as Valletta, when they were out-staged in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League by Spartak Trnava of Slovakia, drawing 1-1 in Mostar and narrowly losing 1-0 in the return leg in Trnava.
Asked about how does he compare his side’s results at European club level to date (drawing both matches played so far 1-1 both against Trnava and Valletta) with his side’s two opening wins in the local Premier Liga, Mise stressed that they are completely two levels of football.
“At European club level you cannot make mistakes. If you do, the opponents will punish you. Locally it is a different story and we can manage our opponents well.”
The match will be played at the Centenary Stadium, kickoff at 18:00 hours.