The last few days haven’t been so simple for us after the loss to Hapoel Beer Sheva.
It’s never pleasant to lose, but I was actually very encouraged following the match. I believe we performed well and it was unfortunate to give up an early goal that changed our whole game plan. However, there are some positive points that can be taken away from this match where the feeling afterwards was that we had the better team and we will prove this later on.
Just like we said before the Beer Sheva match and as we are now saying after it, that it’s fine that they wanted to turn this game into the match of the year. But for us it was just another game against a rival that we are currently fighting against for the title and nothing more than that. Again, I want to reiterate that of course everyone is disappointed after a loss, but it’s exactly the same disappointment we have after any other loss. We saw who we’re against and who will be our chief competition for the title this season. We respect Beer Sheva but we can also be encouraged with our abilities.
The loss is now behind us. When you are in this type of profession you need to know how to move on very quickly after a loss just like after a victory and also begin to think of the upcoming match and begin preparing for it. I think that whoever saw our last few practices or those who were part of them on the training pitch at Kiryat Shalom can assure you that the players are ready and prepared for the next match.
I’m sure you’re also wondering how we as players are handling the constant whispers around the club over the last few days. The truth is that we have never even dealt with these whispers and I think that over the last few years the club has done an excellent job of keeping these external noises to an absolute minimum and out of the training facility and off of the pitches.
But now as I already mentioned earlier we are concentrating on one goal only: to get back on the winning track and no less important is to do so at home in front of our loyal fans. Tonight’s opponent, Kiryat Shemona is a very difficult team to play against and who gave us a hard time in the first round. Though we played well in the first game against them with many opportunities to win, we just didn’t. The same is true about the Champions Cup match where we lost on penalties, so we’re coming into this match with a ton of motivation.
We feel that the supporters are behind us and we also feel that we have plenty to give and where we can strive to improve. We all urge you to be with us going forward. Yalla Maccabi!
