Giovanni Tedesco is still fully motivated to challenge for major honours in Maltese football as the Italian returned at 360 Sports Malta Premier at the helm of Gżira United earlier this month.
Tedesco has been given the chance to kickstart a second spell at Gżira United after the Maroons saw their first-team coach Andrew Cohen step down from his job after his team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ħamrun Spartans that condemned the side to the Bottom Six of the Opening Round.
Speaking to the media just a few days before his team’s match against Żabbar St Patrick on Sunday, Tedesco said that he is looking forward to kickstart his second spell at Gżira United and his ambition is always to try and challenge for major domestic honours.
“It’s a great honour for me to be back in Maltese football,” said Tedesco, who started the season in Qatar with Al Mesaimeer SC.
“When top officials from Gżira United called me, I was very pleased as it meant that during my time here in Malta I managed to do some good stuff.
“I am really looking forward to this challenge as its a new opportunity. I have joined an important club in Malta, and I believe that they deserved to qualify for the Top Six but it seems that they lost some qualities in the final weeks of the first phase.
“Obviously there is a lot of work to be done, and I firmly believe that the only way for us to improve is to work very hard.
“I want my players to believe in themselves and show personality on the pitch starting on Sunday against Żabbar SP.”
Tedesco said that his winning mentality has never waned and is determined to try and win honours during his second spell at the club.
“You should know me well by now, I am a person who doesn’t like to lose football matches and I am here at Gżira to try and bring success to the club,” the former Palermo midfielder said.
“At Floriana, I returned for a second spell and managed to win the FA Trophy and the same happened at Birkirkara where I managed to win the cup competition in my second stint so I hope it’s third time lucky here as in football you never know what can happen.”
Tedesco has only arrived in Malta last week and so far, had little time to work his team but is already exploring options to make some changes to the squad during the January transfer window.
“I only had one or two sessions with a full squad available so it’s still early for me to make any evaluations,” Tedesco said.
“But definitely, we will have to see how we can make the squad stronger and in the coming weeks I will discuss with the club how we can bring in reinforcements in the squad while also parting ways with a number of players who in my view don’t form part of my project.”
One aspect that certainly does not goes down well with Tedesco is the league format.
“You know that I am very sincere, I certainly don’t like this format,” the Italian said.
“I still cannot understand this format and more than that not even the football fans fully understand how this format will work out.
“I am someone who was in favour of keeping the traditional format which is more straightforward. I don’t think that it’s fair for teams like Birkirkara who have been the best team so far, being penalised through such a strange format.
“I believe that who is in charge should listen to the people’s voice who are against this format as at the end of the day, they are the ones who are spending money to come and see football matches.”
