Malta national team coach: We lost because Mudrik constantly created danger, earned a penalty, scored a goal

Head coach Malta national team Michele Marcolini commented on his team’s defeat in the match against Ukraine (1:3) in the qualification for Euro 2024. The hosts’ mentor believes that his players deserved a different result.

“It’s a shame to lose the first half with a score of 1:2, especially with such two goals conceded. A very annoying own goal, where our player touched the ball completely alone and it rolled into the goal. And then a penalty, but I believe that the episode with the penalty is the technique and skill of the Ukrainian [Мудрика]running with the ball very quickly. It was very difficult for us mentally at that moment. Crossbar? This is one of the reasons why it’s a shame about the result.

In the second half we tried, we fought, we pressed high, we shot a lot, but unfortunately we couldn’t equalize the score. I feel sorry for the Maltese players because they deserved a different result, they played a very good match.

Ukraine has excellent players, they are fighting with Italy for second place. Players [Мальты] showed desire and readiness to fight for a good result. A draw or victory over Ukraine would be an incredible result for us. We really strived for this. But they couldn’t achieve it, it’s a shame. We will focus on the positives that came out of this match – and there were many.

Mudryk is an incredible player. We lost because he constantly presented a danger, earned a penalty, scored a goal. That’s why a club like Chelsea pays him a lot. This is football, players like him make a difference – and he made a difference today,” Marcolini said after the match.

The Malta team is in last place in Group C, without scoring a single point. In the final match of the qualifying round, the Maltese will play against England on November 17.