Rolando Maran is officially the new coach of the Albanian National Team. Through a press conference, this Tuesday morning, at the 'House of Football' premises, the President of the Football Federation, Armand Duka, introduced the new coach of our national team, Rolando Maran, who has signed a 1.5-year contract with the Albanian Football Federation.
The new coach of the Albanian national team expressed his great happiness for his new assignment and thanked President Duka for his trust, while also complimenting former coach Sylvinho for all the work done with the red and black team over the years.
"I want to thank the President for giving me this opportunity. I want to thank Sylvinho for the words, and compliments for what he has done in these years. I have followed the Albanian National Team closely and for that you have all my compliments. I return to thanking the President because he is giving me the opportunity to coach a national team that represents a people with great pride. Being close to your home, it is something that is felt every time you talk to an Albanian fan," Maran initially said at the press conference.
"It is a great pride for me and the promise is to transmit all your love for the jersey on the field, giving everything of myself and asking everyone who will work with me from my staff, the players and all those who will work together here at the Albanian Football Association."
"For me it is a commitment that I am undertaking, I get a little excited, it is something that I feel inside, it is very strong that I feel about this mission. What I want to say is this, to transmit on the field, what you represent, all the fans and the nation", added the Italian coach, before starting to answer the journalists' questions.
What will be your philosophy in the Albanian National Team? – I like to have an aggressive team, we have to show that we are strong on the field. This is my DNA and I want to transmit this. I have been asked many times, it is something that I do not hide considering that I will lead this National Team, it is not the same as coaching a club, there is a sense of belonging.
For the first time you will be leading a national team, what is the difference from leading a team? – I have asked a lot, since it is the first time. The choice to say yes to Albania is because this national team is not like coaching a club. The sense of belonging is strong, for me this is the difference.
How well do you know our National team and have Edi Reja or De Biasi spoken to you about the National Team? – I know it well, I know many players because I have watched many matches of Albania, I have even watched some of them. I have spoken with De Biasi, besides being a good friend, he is a coach that I appreciate a lot for what he has given. I know what he has done here. He has given me some indications that I appreciate.
Do you think that Albania has a good solid basis to achieve the objectives that the President said earlier? – If I didn't think so, I wouldn't be here. There are opportunities to achieve the objectives, it won't be easy, but we can do it. We have the opportunity to do more even against teams that may be stronger on paper, to achieve the objective of being competitive.
Do you think about trying players from the U-21 National Team and the Albanian championship? – Of course, everything is considered, even the players from the U-21 National Team. In Italy it is different, the current coach will play two friendly matches and will not be there anymore. There are also solutions that are made because of a different journey. We start a new journey towards achieving the objectives. Let's be attentive to every new player, even from the U-21 National Team.
What will be your philosophy, because when we think of an Italian coach, we think of a defensive game? – This legacy that exists for Italian coaches remains, but what I said a little earlier is that we need to have total consistency to dominate the game, to be better than our opponents, and this is not only related to defense. It is important to defend well. I think there must be a balance. Of course, we also need to evaluate the base of players that we have available. What I want to bring is a team that plays football, but of course there will be moments when we need to defend and we need to do this as a team. This is the key to achieving results. One cannot exist without the other. To achieve good results, these things must go step by step.
Is the World Cup still a dream? – This is my dream, just as it is yours. At the moment, my dream is your dream: to achieve the results we all want. If I am here, it means that I am convinced that with dedication, with a united group and a little luck, this can be achieved.
You come from Italian football, where we have a base of current players, but also of prospects. How well do you know the players? – I know all of those who play in Italy, I have faced some as opponents. They are players that I know well. I repeat, Albania is a national team that I know well in terms of following matches and studying them, as we are doing now. Of course, in the future, the knowledge will be supplemented through training, but also by having a relationship with them.
Will you live in Albania like Sylvinho or have you not made a decision yet? – Of course I will move here. It is the first thing I have talked about with the President. If I want to train this team well, if I want to be an integral part of it, I need and want to live here. This will certainly enable me to do my job better, to be closer to my reality, which is your reality.
What is the strong point of our team? – I can't make such a judgment before training the players. I think it's a team that has players with very good characteristics, but the players have to be functional for the game system.
A team is built not only by quality players, but also by players who sacrifice for the group. I don't want to make a premature judgment, I don't want to make a mistake. There are some specifics of the team that we can work with and this stimulates me. I want to see them and train them. I am convinced that this mosaic can be completed very well.
First place in the Nations League or preparation for the Euro 2028 qualifiers? – I think winning helps you win. That is the way to come prepared, to do well first and to do well afterwards.
/ Telegraph /