After Sunday's draw at Kiryat Shmona (0-0), a third consecutive away match without a victory, head coach Oscar Garcia is hoping to go back to picking up points away from Bloomfield
After Hapoel Tel Aviv's victory on Saturday, Maccabi Tel Aviv knew they had to win at Kiryat Shmona for the first time since February 2009 in order to maintain their four point advantage at the top of the premier (Winner) league table. They knew this was going to be no easy task with the reigning champions in good form after six matches without a loss. In the end a match that promised so much more and was played under wintry conditions ended in a whimper rather than a bang, 0-0. The Yellows, who came closer to scoring through a Carlos Garcia header that hit the crossbar, had to make do with a point that kept them top of the table with a two point advantage.
Head coach Oscar Garcia talked about the good and the not so good things he saw in the match: "I think we had enough chances to score, two of them were even exceptional. We were a better side in the first half, we created a number of chances. We didn't play well in the second half, conditions on the pitch weren't good and we weren't able to seal the win, even though at the end of the day I believe we deserved to. I would have preferred all three points but I believe the players gave it their all. I'd also like to thank the 500 fans who made it all the way up here to support us."
Garcia also spoke about his player's struggles to halt a run, including Sunday night's game, of three consecutive away matches without a victory: "We had two difficult away matches in Kiryat Shmona and at Kiryat Eliezer against Maccabi Haifa. Obviously it's easier for us at home in front of our own fans but we have to win away from home too".
Yellow's defender Eitan Tibi, who arrived at Maccabi Tel Aviv last summer from Kiryat Shmona and played on Sunday for the first time against his old club had this to say: "It was raining cats and dogs, the match and the conditions weren’t easy. We really wanted to win and despite everything we gave it our all. We had our chances but didn't convert, that's just part of the game. But we have a great attacking side and they'll be scoring a lot more goals this season."
Tibi complimented Maccabi Tel Aviv's young goalkeeper Barak Levi, who opened in his first league match in the Yellow's goal: "He was really great today and gave a lot of confidence to the defence. I really enjoyed playing with him and I'm really happy for him that he kept a clean sheet in his first real test".
Yellows goalkeeper Barak Levi, who yesterday celebrated his 20th birthday with a clean sheet, summed things up from his point of view in the goal mouth: "We fought for one another and played well but missed a lot of chances. Hopefully we'll make up for it next week against Hapoel Beer Sheva." When asked how the wet conditions affected his play he said: "That's another thing I have to experience if I'm to get to where I want to be. I'm still learning".