This is an important day for the national team, with Albania parting ways with Sylvinho and bringing to the bench the Italian coach, Rolando Maran. The objectives remain the same, qualification for major competitions, although now the red and blacks will have a different face. Invited to Sport News on News 24, coach Shpëtim Duro, in a conversation with Trevisa Tufa, spoke about the closed era of Sylvinho and the new chapter that we opened today.

Professor, you expected such a move. Was this the end of Sylvinho's cycle?

The symptoms were visible, since the last elimination for the World Cup. It was more or less predicted, I can say that there was a human, professional division. One leaving, one coming, there was consensus from all sides.

 

 

To close the cycle and we with the analysis of Sylvinho. How will you evaluate this 3-year-old with him on the bench?

Football is sensitive, I speak as a specialist, the coach is measured by results. I consider Sylvinho to be the most successful in the history of Albania. He sent our team to the European Championship with merit, and even sent us to the World Cup Play Off, leaving behind a rival like Serbia. The departure was expected, a cycle ended. It was an extremely normal departure.

Apparently, it was a decision made a long time ago. It was a surprise to the public, but not to the Duke... I don't think it was a quick choice?

These talks are taking place, this is the direct competence of President Duka. The sports opinion should thank Sylvinho, we also wish the new coach success.

Rolando Maran, a 62-year-old Italian. With a not-so-rich CV, or rather a not-so-high profile. Did you know Duro, does this name mean anything to you?

I know him, he is a coach with experience in Serie A and Serie B. We did not expect Conte to come to us. Many things come together, including the financial factor that interests the federation. This skepticism was also for Sylvinho, but the facts made him the most successful in Albania. Let's wait and see how things go.

Why this obsession with Italians, he is the 5th Italian coach at the helm of the national team, he has only led us with De Biasi, the rest have disappointed. Is this a step backwards? How do you evaluate this choice?

No disappointment, but the success of De Biasi and Sylvinho has been beyond parameters. If not for one Italian, another would come to the bench. This is the strategy of the Duke.

I asked this question because Italy is in the darkest moment in its history. It did not qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row, it has fallen a lot in terms of football and training, and even Serie A itself is no longer an oasis for Albanian footballers...

Italy is a big loss for European and world football. It is a recurring moment, a big blow, they are looking, analyzing, how it works, the problems, things are not that easy. It is that it does not have a quality generation. There used to be figures of world football like Totti and Baggio. It has been suffering from a lack of talent for several years. This is one of the main reasons that Italy is in this situation.

I don't want to prejudge, anyway, his last experience was at the helm of Brescia, he's been out of work for a year. Did you expect something more? These days, names like Canavaro etc. were circulating, but we chose Maran?

We have no reason to prejudge him. The job of the coach? There are two opposite things, the issue of a great coach as a player and the issue of a great coach as a coach. A coach, without experience, without a name, can do great things. We should not be carried away by opinion. Panucci came, he was the biggest failure. We should not start from the name as a player, but we should look at the experience as a coach. The job of the coach is a bit lucky. This coach of ours who came, has the right experience.

The fact is that Albania has moved to another level, now the European Championship seems like a must, we have gained a lot of experience. Could and should we aim for something more, a profile that would take us to another level?

He has a lot of responsibility, the number of objectives has increased, after two participations in the European Championship. In this aspect, it will be difficult, but let's hope. He knows the players well, as some of them play in Italy. Albania has become a team from which footballers play in different countries.

As an old-school Italian, do you believe we will return to De Biasi's style, a solid defense, etc.? Do you think we will change the philosophy now? And how much will this part affect?

Even at Chievo, he was a pragmatist and tactician. He will be a "photocopy" of De Biasi, the important thing is that he is a tactical coach.

I was impressed by Duka's statement, but also by Maran's. They set the World Cup as their goal, but in the meantime they have a contract until 2028. Do you believe they will last that long?

The coach's job depends on how things go. First there's the Nations League, the World Cup is far away. The friendlies are also very important. The goal is the Nations League, then the European Championship. The coach's job has no guarantees.

Professor, in the remaining minutes, I would like to have your opinion on "FINAL4". It started with big surprises, Egnatia dismantled Elbasan and Dinamo triumphed against Vllaznia. Apparently we had not done the calculations well, two surprise results we can say...

In football you have to be down to earth. At first I had Dinamo and Egnatia in mind. Dinamo gave up very quickly and in the match against Vllaznia, it came to a match, after winning the Cup. Dinamo was high in psychological terms after winning the Cup. I saw a euphoria in Vllaznia, they had taken it easily.

The Egnatia-Elbasani match, the same situation, Egnatia has the team, the organic team. Now the competition is open.

There are three teams with 31 points and Dinamo with 27. Who do you see as the favorite, professor? Who can triumph this season?

Very difficult for Dinamo, but not impossible.

I see Vllaznia as the favorite.