By Xhevdet Zekaj / When defeat is not the end but the beginning. In football, there are losses, but no drama

KF Egnatia’s defeat in Iceland was heavy and disappointing for everyone: the management, the coach, the players, the staff, and the fans. But it is not the end of the world, nor a reason to deny the entire journey and sacrifice this team has made to get here. In European football, there are big wins and heavy losses even for the greatest.

Some unforgettable results illustrate this better than words:

• Barcelona 2–8 Bayern Munich

• Manchester United 0–7 Liverpool

• Real Madrid 0–4 Manchester City

• Liverpool 2–5 Real Madrid at Anfield

• Al Ahly 4–2 Real Madrid

  
  

These losses did not bring these clubs down, nor did they cause impulsive resignations. Because sport demands continuity and professionalism. The same philosophy should guide us too.

We didn’t lose because of euphoria. We lost because it happens. Because it’s football.

There is a wrong perception that Egnatia underestimated their opponent. The truth is the team traveled with serious absences in the lineup: Ujka, Lushkja, Ndreca, Ajme, and Jefferson were out of play. Bakayoko, Aliev, and Melo played despite injuries, enduring injections and giving their maximum dedication.

When 5–6 starters are missing and you face an opponent like Breidablik who just last season was in the Conference League groups, the risk is real. The loss was not due to negligence but the real conditions of the challenge.

The reaction is not resignation. It is resilience.

In modern football, a single match does not determine the fate of a project. Simone Inzaghi lost 5–0 to PSG and continued. Luis Enrique stayed on after losing to Chelsea. Xabi Alonso was beaten 4–0 by PSG in the Champions League and lost 0–4 in the final against Atalanta but finished the season with Leverkusen as one of the most successful in history.

Because today football is measured by long-term vision, not fleeting emotions.

This is Egnatia’s project: built on foundations. On daily work. On commitment and professionalism. The wins in the Albanian league, the Cup, and the Supercup were no accident. They were the result of steady development.

The loss in Iceland is a signal not an alarm. It is a lesson not drama. It is a moment for reflection not a turning point for panic.

Europe is tough, but the path to growth passes through such challenges.

KF Egnatia will continue. More humble. Stronger. Better prepared.

This is the message: one match is not the end. It is the beginning of a new understanding, of further growth, of a bigger dream.

In football, you’re not judged by what you won yesterday but by what you build today.

We are building. And we will not stop.

GO KF Egnatia!

“KORÇA BOOM”