Paide go into Thursday’s UEFA Conference League third qualifying round first leg against Rapid Vienna with head coach Tarmo Kink insisting their place at this stage has been earned.
Speaking at Paide’s pre-match press conference, Kink said the squad should be close to full strength. Winger Siim Luts is the only player carrying a minor issue, with a final decision on his availability set to be made on matchday.
New signing Kristofer Käit has spent only a few days with the squad since joining on Tuesday, and Kink would not confirm whether the young centre-back will be involved. “We’ll see. He hasn’t played for a long time and only joined us on Tuesday, but I think he has fitted in very well,” Kink said. “He already had some old acquaintances here and he seems the sort of open lad who doesn’t find it difficult to adapt. Whether he actually plays tomorrow, I can’t promise you.”
Kink added that the chance to bring in a defender of Käit’s profile was one Paide had to take, pointing to his age and ambition as important for the club’s longer-term plans.
Paide arrive in buoyant mood after beating Zira in the previous round, with Kink hoping that feeling carries into domestic and European matches alike. “Very positive, of course. The atmosphere and feeling you get from success away from home is hard to achieve in the domestic league,” he said. “I hope that emotion helps us not only in Europe, but overall.”
Kink said Paide’s approach against Rapid would be built on familiar foundations. “Everything starts with discipline, work ethic, our own confidence and desire,” he said. “If those things are in place, you can make even a top team’s life very, very difficult.”
The game tomorrow inside the A Le Coq Arena will start at 19:00 Baltic time.
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Source: https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/paide-kolmandas-eelringis-pole-juhus-kink-oleme-selle-koha-higi-ja-verega-valja-teeninud
