The national team held the mandatory MD-1 press conference ahead of their upcoming fixture against the Netherlands on Thursday, 9th October in Ta’ Qali (kick-off 20:45) with Head Coach Emilio De Leo and player Joseph Mbong addressing the media. Both spoke openly about the team’s progress, challenges, and aspirations as they continue their international journey.
Coach De Leo reflected on the team’s ongoing development, describing it as a journey marked by both progress and obstacles.
“We have started a journey. We face difficulties, but this is how we grow,” he said. “Our objective is to keep the momentum, learn from our mistakes, and not repeat them. We want to continue being ourselves, have fun, and create our own identity.”
Addressing the heavy defeat against the Netherlands, De Leo admitted it was a painful experience but one that proved valuable.
“The result against the Netherlands was negative and felt like a slap in the face—it hurt. However, it helped us in the games that followed, where we were able to show that we have grown.”
The coach acknowledged that the errors in that match were mainly tactical but insisted on focusing on the team’s strengths.
“The errors were tactical ones, but I prefer to concentrate on our qualities and bank on them. We should show courage and faith, knowing that we have good-quality players who are learning.”
De Leo emphasized the importance of concentration and tactical awareness, particularly when facing strong opponents capable of changing the course of a game in seconds. He also confirmed that the team’s atmosphere remains positive.
“There don’t seem to be any problems in the team. We still have our last meeting and training session, but the group is united and focused.”
When asked about the recent number of yellow and red cards, De Leo admitted that player passion sometimes spills over but said this is part of the team’s evolution.
“We have a lot of participation by players who show their will to be involved, and we are raising the bar. Sometimes that passion is a bit excessive, and yes, that’s an area where we need to be more balanced,” he explained.
“Not all incidents are our fault, but I tell my players that we must march on, even if we do not agree with certain decisions.”
De Leo also praised the number of players competing in European competitions.
“The fact that players are playing in European competitions means they are representing our country while also gaining valuable experience to bring back to the team. It’s an advantage. Yes, they may come back tired, but it’s my responsibility to put all the pawns in place.”
When asked to rate the team’s performance so far, De Leo preferred to reserve judgment.
“I would like to give a vote at the end. We still have a way to go, and we can further improve. Destiny is still not in our favour, but I believe it will be when the time is right. We only have to be patient.”
Player Joseph Mbong echoed his coach’s optimism, highlighting the benefits of playing football at a higher competitive level.
“It helps to be playing at European level. The intensity is higher than in our domestic league. Instead of two games a month, we play three or four, often in big stadiums with large crowds. That environment helps me grow as a player.”
Looking ahead to the match against the Netherlands, Mbong said these occasions are the kind every player looks forward to.
“These are the games every player lives for. Hopefully, we’ll have a good attendance, because that always helps our performance. The motivation is high—we want to make up for the away loss.”
He acknowledged the disappointment of the previous result but pointed to signs of progress in recent performances.
“Obviously we were disappointed, but during the last international window we showed that we learned from our mistakes and made a good showing. Our aim is to keep improving.”
Both De Leo and Mbong stressed that while results are important, the national team’s focus remains on development, identity, and perseverance. With a united squad and growing experience, the team looks determined to continue its journey with patience, belief, and passion.
