From the championship race to the national team. The famous coach, Juljan Ahmataj, in an exclusive interview for Sport News on News 24, made his analysis. In the conversation with Trevisa Tufa, he said that Tirana can be saved. Ahmataj also "applauds" the National Team for reaching the Play Off and says that qualifying for the World Cup would be a miracle.

Juli, after two years you left the bench of the U-19 representative team, why this decision?

Two years are enough and something new was needed. The activity was definitely a great pleasure. A thank you goes to the president who gave me this opportunity.

What are your plans for the future, did you have a plan B, did you have any offers on the table?

I don't think I made this move to go from the national team to another team. It shouldn't be used, it's not very ethical for a coach to go from the national team to a club.

The question we often ask fans, the sports environment. Does our football have talent? How is the situation with the chain teams? What should we expect in the future?

The future is certain. Despite the fact that in Albania there are many talents who develop and go to clubs and then come and contribute to the national team, Albania is growing a very golden generation, the children of immigrants. Indeed, Albanians are known as a people who work hard. Today we see Albanian players stepping on big arenas. This makes us proud. The future is certain, many talents are touching big stages.

In your status, I was impressed by a detail, "in March, the national team will make the World Cup dream a reality, you wrote, do you really believe this?"

I definitely believe it, everyone involved in football knows that the magic of football is very great. In football, the favorite does not always win. We have been constant in all our performances.

What worries me is the form of the red and black legionnaires this period. An important part, players like Ismajli, Berisha etc., are injured, another part like Asllani, Mitaj, Hysaj etc. are not activated at all, can this situation affect, or more precisely what do you fear most?

To achieve a good result, you have to gather all the elements that lead to a very invincible team. Despite the situations that the players have had at certain moments, these are very important matches. I think that despite these, which are true, our national team has many elements, our staff has analyzed it well and I think that on the field we will have a competitive team.

Meanwhile, Ernest Muçi is in great form, he thinks Sylvinho will change this time, will invite him to the National Team. Could Muçi be the winning card for March?

All of this makes the coach and staff happy. I think they analyze the matches and the opponent better. The good form of the players definitely leads them to activation.

Muçi could be a Jasir Asani against Poland, he's scoring super goals..

I'm happy for both of them, they are products of the Albanian championship. I think they are players who can solve situations.

Another player in great form is Anis Mehmeti, but for Mehmeti Sylvinho emphasizes that there is a lot of traffic in his side, in your opinion, does Mehmeti deserve to be recalled. Does Albania have the luxury of leaving out two players such as Mehmeti and Muçi?

Good players who grow up in Europe or elsewhere, I think they can be useful for our national team. But, the staffs are careful, because football is played to win. Having a winning team, it is very dangerous if you introduce new players into this team. All the players we are mentioning, it is really the period of time that is leaving them off the field. The team is playing well, the starters have been in shape and have not given up on anyone. The introductions must be careful. In this regard, the good thing is that everyone trusts the staff's choice.

To close with the National Team. Is Poland the strongest rival, the biggest obstacle to getting to the World Cup?

Of course, the dream of the World Cup is a great achievement. This is thanks to the work and all the ambitions that the institution called the Albanian Football Association has. I think we have done our best. Whoever was a rival at this stage would be a very strong rival. If we reach the World Cup, it would be a miracle.

Meanwhile, in Albania, it's a transfer window and the team that has intervened the most is Tirana, your former team. Did you expect such a Tirana, Juli, that has been fighting for survival for two years?

They were talking about changing teams and Tirana has ruined the team many times in this period. They have removed players who were stable in the team. We have seen that in the summer a new team was built, now another team is being built. I think Tirana does not belong there.

Why is Tirana in this situation? Many are talking about its financial problems, but it is investing millions in the transfer market again.

I don't think it's this part. I don't think there's anyone left without getting the finances in Tirana. In Tirana, this excessive change in the team's composition has brought about oscillations. In different cases, it has happened for better and for worse. This drastic change that is taking place in January has strengthened the team. This team needs more trust.

Dabulla, but also many other former players consider him to be fallen, but this discussion was before January. What do you think, will Tirana survive this season?

Definitely yes, it's almost 4 points and the math allows you to make all the right combinations. There are points in the game that can overturn many things. Tirana has enough points to go to the top four. That could happen too. I think everyone has their own perspective and these very big players of Tirana. They have seen the projection of the team from September to December. If you look at it, the projection has been in regression.

The race for the title also seems set, with Egnatia, Vllaznia, Elbasani and Dinamo in the top four, in strong positions. Do you think this will be the Final4 four by the end?

I think I wouldn't rule out Teuta, there have been some changes. All 5 of these teams, not excluding Partizan either, the math is in play. Partizan is a team with traditions that can join the competition. I think the dynamics here are specific. Vllaznia made a big step at the beginning, but there was a setback, the effects are numerous, the injuries can be numerous. In football, the March-April period is important. In that period, whichever team has the best form, will make the difference and will be declared champion.

Can Partizan make it into this top four, 7 points behind Dinamo, if so, who can take their place?

All the teams that are there, each team can fail. Experience in football is very important. Those teams that have experienced people who protect the team from oscillations, I think will be the most stable teams. Both teams that are trying to reach the Final Four, like Partizani and Teuta, think that they are teams of this level.

Do you think the new formula will affect the title race? How do you assess this change this season?

Changes in formulas bring innovation. I think the Final Four is a bit confusing. The Final Four is a bit confusing, because the points exist among the teams, despite the fact that the four that fight for the title will be divided.

Among the top four teams, who do you see as the most complete team, who do you see as the favorite in the race for the title?

The second one is very difficult to find. The dynamics of the championship have been very different, we saw Tirana who they said was down, but they worked hard and now they are giving signals. Really, all the teams from the beginning, do not have much difference. This competition is strong with 10 teams.

The favorite in the title race…

I think that Egnatia has a step ahead, as it has been the champion for 2 years. All the other challengers have their weapons. Elbasan is a strong team, very difficult to beat. Indeed, when playing against strong teams, it gives a performance that takes you to the title. Vllaznia is a team that, with its momentum and with the football that it has a tradition, despite the activation of young boys, always has football and football takes you to results. I think that for these teams, what matters is who maintains stability and overcomes small crises. It is impossible to tell who will win.