Ylber Ramadani warns Albania ahead of Belarus clash: “It won’t be an easy match”

Ylber Ramadani urged the Albanian national team to approach the Belarus match, the first of four challenges in this edition of the Nations League, with full seriousness, revealing what coach Maran has asked of the squad.

The red-and-black midfielder spoke at a press conference about what the national team must do, also revealing what coach Maran had asked of him.

“The match against Belarus is not easy. Now every opponent is difficult. We have to go in very seriously, change the mentality from the last two friendlies. Go in to win and move forward. From the start, since the coach arrived, he has made it clear he wants to play with high pressing and wants us to take the opponent further up the pitch. As I said, the coach always talks and watches the opponent, and on that basis prepares the game,” Ramadani said.

“Whether I play or not is not a problem for me, because for me the team’s victory matters more,” he added. “The coach prefers one number 6 and two number 8s? I have no problem with that. Even when I was in my best form, there was no problem, and when I didn’t play. We are in the national team and we represent Albania. All the best players gather here. Whether I play or not, I have no problem. I will support the lads both on and off the pitch. Only to achieve the objective we have as a team. Everyone wants to play and represent their country. The choices are all made by the coach and I am 100% behind him. Whether I play or not, no problem. Only to win and get the result we want,” Ramadani added.

The midfielder added that football is no longer what it used to be, with the gaps between teams narrowing markedly, while the red-and-blacks target first place in the group.

“In my opinion, football has changed. There is no easy team, everyone runs and fights. Every team can surprise. We have our objective, the coach has expressed it too. We express it as well. We want to finish first in the group,” Ramadani concluded.