Only for victory against Latvia, Daku and Shehu: We did well against Gibraltar, we learned from mistakes

2025-09-06 14:08:00, Sport CNA

Only for victory against Latvia, Daku and Shehu: We did well against Gibraltar,

Juljan Shehu and Mirlind Daku appeared today at the press conference at the "Air Albania" stadium, on the eve of the Albania - Latvia match.

The red and black footballers spoke about the objectives of this meeting, while also commenting on the 0-1 victory in the last friendly against Gibraltar.

Juljan Shehu emphasized that the next match against Latvia is very important and the main objective is to get the three points.

The match with Gibraltar – The objective for the match with Gibraltar was to try out the new players, some ways of playing. I believe we played a good match. The players who were given the opportunity to play, I believe, played well and showed their values ????as national team players. It was a positive match.

The team's mood for the next match – The next match is the most important. The mood in the team is very good, we have enthusiasm and we have to win this match. This is also the main objective, to get the three points.

Criticisms about the last matches and the changes that the team should make in the game - I believe that we have not played bad matches, but the most important thing is to get results, for which we play 90 minutes. I believe that in these matches, along with a good game, we also get results. Against Latvia, we want to get the three points and everything is easier then.

What have you prepared to correct the mistakes of the last match with Latvia – I don't think it's a matter of concentration. Every team, be it Latvia, be it other teams that are weaker than us on paper, they also play football and it's not easy to win against them. Especially on their fields. In this match we will do even more to get the three points.

What has prevented you from scoring for the national team as you do for the club? - The club is not the same as the national team. In the team, my natural position is defensive midfielder. But depending on the coaches' tactics, sometimes players change positions. This is not always determined. There are coaches who ask me to play a little further forward, there are coaches who ask me to play a little further back. In the national team, the coach has decided that I play as a defensive midfielder and I have to do my best in that position and in the tasks that the coach gives me.

Mirlind Daku commented on the friendly match against Gibraltar and spoke about the next qualifying challenge against Latvia, emphasizing that the objective is victory at "Air Albania".

The match with Gibraltar? – It was a match where we had a lot of testing of the new players who came and it was the first time we played together. Regarding the attacking aspect we had some chances, but it wasn't that maximum concentration considering that friendly matches are just to see how the team is positioned and the schemes that we prepare. I believe that friendly matches are normally to be won and to see the team in the game what it takes to improve.

Latvia? – In the first match against Latvia we had many chances, but maybe we were coming after a match here at "Air Albania" against Serbia with a lot of volume and intensity, but still we were a little aggressive in the finishing part, but there were no shortage of chances. This is what we should not worry about, as we had chances and could have won, but I hope that in the next match we will win, as we have learned from the mistakes we have made.

How is the team doing? – We need to find strength and I believe that very soon and starting from the Latvia match which is very important to continue the flow of matches that we have with great intensity and we definitely need to find strength and give our maximum to win these matches, to be calmer because the most difficult matches that any team has are when they play against these teams that on paper have nothing to lose and enter the field for anything. Therefore, we need to find strength, be united and fight until the end for our goals that we have.

How has the team performed so far in these qualifiers? - I believe you have seen and I am referring to the match with Serbia that we were very prepared and better in that match than the opponent. I believe that only against England that we played there, we have dominated all the other matches and we must also take these matches one step closer to the dream we have, to secure the World Cup. Although there are very few matches left, it is a very long road, because it takes a lot of work and commitment to get there, because we have very strong opponents, but I believe in this group and all of us that with effort, sacrifice and commitment we will succeed.

Albania will play a match against Latvia on Tuesday at 20:45 at the 'Air Albania' stadium, valid for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.