Rolando Maran has made Albania’s approach for the final Group C1 match in the UEFA Nations League perfectly clear: against Belarus, there is only one objective. Victory and three points.
Speaking on the eve of the game at the Illovszky Rudolf Stadion, Maran rejected any suggestion that Albania had been discussing the possibility of reaching first place with a draw. The message from the camp was direct and uncomplicated. Albania want to finish the job themselves.
Belarus have been one of the toughest opponents in the group for Albania, and the stakes are high because this is the last match of the section. But Maran’s tone suggested a team focused on control rather than calculation. He made it plain that the dressing room is not being guided by scenarios or permutations.
The press conference also featured Kristjan Asllani, underlining the importance of the occasion for Albania as they prepare for a decisive night. With tomorrow’s kick-off set for 18:00, the final message from the coach was built around clarity: Albania are going for the win.
Maran rules out playing for the draw
Maran’s answer when asked about settling for a point was decisive. “No, absolutely not,” he said, before stressing that Albania are not a team that counts in that way. His point was that the only acceptable outcome is to take the game to Belarus and look for the victory that would end the group stage on the right note.
That is a useful line to draw at this stage of the campaign. Even though a draw could still be enough to put Albania in first place, Maran has chosen to keep the message simple. The focus is not on what might be enough. It is on winning the match.
Belarus already know Albania can hurt them
There is also a clear football reason for that approach. Belarus have lost only once in their last 12 matches before this press conference, and that defeat came against Albania. That gives Maran’s side a reminder that they have already found a way through this opponent once in the recent run.
But the coach’s message suggests he is not interested in treating that as reassurance on its own. In a final group match, the safest mindset is often the boldest one. Albania will need to match belief with execution, and Maran appears determined that his side should play with ambition rather than caution.
Tomorrow at 18:00, that will be tested again. For Albania, the equation is straightforward: beat Belarus, take the three points, and finish Group C1 on their own terms.
