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By:
Faton Polisi
- July 27, 2026 21:45
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Same approach to the game, but more concrete in front of the opposing goal.
This is the expectation of Drita coach Zekirija Ramadani for the return match against the team from Malta, Floriana.
Last week's match in Malta ended 1:1, a result that could have been different if the Gjilan team had taken advantage of the opportunities they had during the 90 minutes.
Experienced coach Ramadani knows this well, and he is confident that Drita will secure passage to the third qualifying round of the Conference League.
Ramadani, at the press conference held on Monday evening, emphasized that the approach will be the same and that the team is mobilized for the second match, which will be played on Tuesday at 20:00 PM at the "Fadil Vokrri" stadium in Pristina.
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"We didn't lack chances, but we lacked goals. And the goal came at the end. But at that moment, when we didn't expect it at all, the equalizer came. An equalizer that has both its good and bad sides. That goal mobilized the team more, because if we were 1:0, with all those missed chances, it would have been difficult to mobilize the team. Now we are all mobilized, from the first to the last, and everything is in our hands. I believe that we will come out with a victory," said Ramadani.
Drita was winning 1:0 with a goal by Liridon Balaj in the 96th minute. But when more than 100 minutes of play had passed, precisely in the 102nd minute, Drita conceded the equalizer.
The match lasted more than 90 minutes due to power problems at the Floriana stadium.
Ramadani says that the power outages on four occasions during the match had a negative impact.
But he believes that his players did their best to win the first match.
"We ran a total of 10 kilometers more than in the second match against the team from Lithuania. It's not a small amount to run 10 kilometers in 37 degrees Celsius. We have to look ahead, we are in Pristina and we have an obligation to win and qualify," said Ramadani.
The Skopje coach has full confidence that Drita will successfully pass the second qualifying round of the third UEFA competition by level.
"The confidence is 100%. Apart from taking the chances, there is nothing else we need to do differently in the return match. What is required more is finishing. We have increased the work of finishing and we will see the result tomorrow night."
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The 48-year-old coach invites loyal fans to support Drita from the stands.
"Ultimately, it's better to have a small number of sincere fans than a large number of analysts in the stands," Ramadani said.
Alongside Ramadani, Jorgo Pëllumbi appeared at the conference.
The 26-year-old defender was brief in his response, but very clear about Drita's intentions.
"We are all ready to give our best tomorrow and take the next step in the Conference League," said Pëllumbi.
He admits there is pressure in the locker room before the match against Floriana.
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"At these levels there is always pressure, but we just have to know how to manage the pressure. Even in the neighborhood when you play you have pressure," said Pëllumbi.
If Drita successfully overcomes Floriana on Tuesday, they will face San Marino's Tre Fiori in the third round.
