Tal Ben Haim, the Yellow & Blue central defender looked forward to his team’s Matchday 26 contest versus Hapoel Haifa at the Netanya Stadium on Sunday at 20:15. Number 26
“The answer if I want to be in the National Team is yes and do I think I deserve to be there the answer is yes. You need to ask the coach why I wasn’t selected. He makes his own decisions and that’s that.”
The season to date:
“We can only sum things up at the end of the season. We have played very well over the last few games and we have been playing very good and active football which we didn’t see for a while. We want to continue playing this way and we shall see what will be going forward.”
Changes in the team itself:
“We’re working harder during training and we are all playing on the defensive side of the game. When everybody chips in, then the results are better.”
Last match against Hapoel Haifa:
“We took the foot off of the gas last match away at Hapoel Haifa, but we are training well and we are focused on this match. We will come into the game ready to go.”
Afraid to pick up yellow cards and then being unable to play:
“As a player, when I go into the game I’m not thinking that I have a yellow card or not. I give the maximum every time I’m on the pitch. We are focusing on the next game only. One at a time.”
The importance for himself playing at Maccabi:
“First of all I want to be part of Maccabi for the rest of my career. I grew up here and I came back here after a long time in Europe. I’m not really thinking to far ahead and just the next game. What will be, will be, but everyone knows that my goal is to stay at this club as long as I can.”
Having spoken to his friend Eden Ben Basat:
“Not yet, but even when I play against my sons I don’t let them get by me and I play my hardest.”
Changes since Lito Vidigal’s arrival:
“There’s no secrets in football. When someone works hard, results will come. We have watched a lot of video to see what we did well and what we can improve. There is criticism when there needs to be and we are always looking to improve.”
The training staff:
“We have a great staff that knows how to keep us in shape. They know when we should do more or do less and that way we go into the games with terrific energy. It’s not easy to change coaches in the middle of the year but we adjusted quickly and we know what we have to do.”
Barcelona’s 6:1 win?
“Barcelona is a team that never ceases to amaze us.”
