Edy Reja: 2020, a difficult and abnormal year, but positive regarding football - FSHF

Edy Reja: 2020, a difficult and abnormal year, but positive regarding football

The coach of the National Football Team, Edoardo Reja, made an overview for the year we are leaving behind. During an exclusive interview for fshf.org, coach Reja declared that despite the difficulties caused by COVID-19, the overview for 2020, referring to the latest matches of the national team, is positive. The coach of the Red&Blacks seems to still suffer the home defeat against Lithuania, considering it as the most difficult moment of the year in football. However, the first place in the group brings great memories, with people thanking him in the streets for the results achieved. Regarding the draw for the qualifying round of World Cup 2022, he declared that the team will be competitive until the last match against Andorra.

By the end, coach Reja declared that despite football, this year has not been a good year for everyone, with loss of lives and an abnormal lifestyle. He wishes all the employees of AFA, the fans and all Albanians, a better and normal upcoming year.

Overview for 2020 of the National Team- ‘’The overview for 2020 has been positive in general. But we should take into consideration the great difficulties that we faced, due to COVID-19, especially in transfers against Kazakhstan and Lithuania. Many players were not playing with their clubs, someone was infected with coronavirus, some had other problems and we had to find a way to lineup players that were playing with their clubs. We had to put in play players that had never players with the national team, but in both important matches of Kazakhstan and Lithuania, they made a good appearance.

Maybe we played better than in matches that we actually won, created scoring opportunities but unfortunately we couldn’t score. So, the overview is positive, especially referring to the latest performance during the friendly match against Kosovo that was important for us and in the home matches against Belarus and Kazakhstan. Three consecutive wins that gave us security and trust, gave enthusiasm to the group and we reached the final objective.

It is important that everything ended well. We got the first place in the group and we are satisfied. I think that we should have won one of the transfers that ended in a draw, we had more chances to go to the playoffs of the World Cup. But we are satisfied and we will try to do our best in the future.

The most difficult moment of the year in football- The most difficult moment of the year was the home defeat against Lithuania. The entire work seemed to crumble down. It was a moment that we touched rock bottom, great delusion, we had huge problems and it was the most difficult moment in my adventure with Albania.

Best moment?- We raised from the difficult situation and the best moment was the home win against Belarus and we achieved our final target. It was something beautiful and important. I remember when walking the streets of Tirana, people thanked for what we had done, for the results achieved. It is beautiful to appreciate the praise of the fans when you walk the streets of the city, smiling at you.

Football expectations for 2021- Regarding the expectations of 2021, I must say that dreams are always beautiful and they become a reality when you believe and we will start soon the qualifying round of World Cup 2022.

We were not lucky in the draw because we share the group with Poland, a strong team, Hungary, one of the most competitive teams lately, which has improved. Our will is to be competitive until the end. We play against England and two other important teams, but we should verify our strength and it will be key, if we want to grow and face our opponents. We should face these challenges and achieve our max. It is important for the players to play with their clubs and in March, show their preparation in order to be competitive against these teams.

Everyday life in 2020 and wishes for 2021- As for the past, we leave behind a year, perhaps the most difficult of our lives. Because we are living in an abnormal situation, which is not part of

our way of life. I personally have lost many friends who faced this virus and unfortunately did not succeed and are no longer among us. I am very sorry for that, because beyond the football aspect, beyond the pleasures we had anyway, we are leaving behind a terrible year. Terrible for the disappointments and I hope this situation passes as soon as possible. I hope this is the year of the rebirth and I hope that we return to full normality as before. In addition, the vaccination process has already started and this is an essential aspect. However it will take some time and we have to be careful, keep the masks, and keep the distance. My congratulations go to all my Albanian friends, to all the employees of the Albanian Football Association, with whom I had an extraordinary relationship and they helped me a lot. You have given me confidence and this is very important for a coach.

I want to wish all Albanian fans, both in Albania and abroad, where there are many, a normal year. We should not ask for big things, but to have a normal year different from this one we are leaving behind “.