Celje - Drita coach, Zekirija Ramadani, has said that the 3:2 result in the defeat against Celje in the first match in Pristina a week ago, could be reversible.
Ramadani said that they have learned from the loss at "Fadil Vokrri" and will now try to get back into the game.
Celje - Drita is played on Thursday at 18:45 and is the return leg of the Conference League knockout stage playoff.
"The second match is both easier and more difficult. We tried to find some points where we could attack, but we didn't achieve them in the first match. With the time we had, we tried to give the players more detailed information through analysis. We were confident that after 2:0 we would overturn the result. Now we have more time. The match could go to extra time. Whatever we do tomorrow will be good for us. We are at a disadvantage, it could be the last match, but we can continue. The players are ready, motivated, we can't wait for the match schedule. I have seen the enthusiasm, we will see it tonight. We must be decisive, not to allow spaces, as the opponent punishes you in half-chances. We must not overlook the chances we will have", said Ramadani.
Coach Ramadani emphasized that Drita will play to score goals.
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"We always play to score, regardless of the opponent. The game is played to score, it could be the winning goal, the equalizer, but it could be of no value. We don't have the quality to punish the opponent with one chance. The second half was courageous. The first half was tactically determined with a reserve. Every restart from the goalkeeper, we were at the opponent's goal. The goals were from standard shots. We have to be courageous and keep the opposing team as far away from the goal as possible," he said.
The Skopje coach also made a call to the Albanian fans who will be in the stadium. He said that they will see 11 gladiators on the field, not mannequins.
"We will give our best for them," emphasized Ramadani, who added that he did not think about elimination.
"I thought we would be eliminated. I believe we can qualify. We need to know one thing. I pray to God that we are not remembered for this historic success, but that this record is broken. If we are remembered for 10 years or more for this success, it is not good. I hope that next year, why not have a higher objective than this year. I have not yet thought about eliminating from European competitions"
Ramadani has taken the example of Norwegian Bodo/Glimt, who on Tuesday night eliminated Inter, the three-time European champion, from the Champions League, for further qualification.
Ramadani had defeated this team with Pristina years ago.
"The strength of the Kosovo champion has been to be eliminated very early. We have surprised everyone. There are no scales that can weigh the strength of Kosovo teams. Let's take Bodo/Glimt for example, that a small team with a small population managed to defeat three elite teams in Europe. We are a small city and a small team in this competition, perhaps the most anonymous, but we rely on the fighting group, which keeps us Albanians going. When we are bad, we come together and achieve our goal. Now we are bad because we are at a disadvantage. We will give our maximum together to achieve our goal", declared Ramadani.
He said he didn't practice penalties, as he had practiced doing so in the past, and the players he trusted to score missed them.
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"I have taken penalties once and those who scored them have missed them. We rely on the experience of Faton Maloku. It would be a success if we went that far. We must be brave to bring the match to penalties. I believe that then luck would be with us," said Ramadani.
For Drita, center back Jorgo Pëllumbi is doubtful to play due to a foot problem.