Ramadani: We must be united; success can come

Coach Zekirija Ramadani has said that Drita can come out successful against Slovenia’s Celje.

Drita host Celje at “Fadil Vokrri” on Thursday evening at 21:00. It is the first leg of the knockout phase play-off in the Conference League.

“Drita must not abandon its identity. We always have motivation and our objective as a team before us. Whenever we have functioned collectively, we have been successful. We have not relied on any individual’s abilities, but on the collective. After the match with Drenica, with only three days to go, we spoke with the footballers and analysed the game. I told them that if we rely on the group, we will make things difficult for our opponents. We must rely on one another on the pitch. We must give our all. We are here where many teams dream of being. Even if defeat comes, we must lose with our heads held high; we must not come across as cowards,” Ramadani said initially.

The Skopje-born coach says Celje are a strong team, but progressing is not impossible.

“We have taken the measures we know how to and are able to take; we have prepared physically, psychologically and tactically. As a footballer, I spent five or six years in Slovenia during pre-season training. Slovenes are reserved. I have watched their last five matches: two were with the former coach and three with the current coach. There is no difference. They play the same style of football. We have tried to identify some of their strengths and weaknesses. We will defend against the entire Celje team. We have tried to prepare the team, and it will be difficult, but qualifying is by no means impossible. We must make the most of our home ground. I hope we will have fans and make the most of playing at home. I hope we can go into the next leg with an advantage, even a minimal one. Mesa, Manaj and Broja are missing. But I have confidence in the others and believe their absence will not be noticeable,” Ramadani said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Drita finished the league phase of the Conference League in 20th place with seven points.