Maccabi head coach Oscar Garcia spoke at a press conference organised by the club in the run-up to Saturday's play-off tie against Hapoel Ramat Hasharon
The Maccabi Tel Aviv squad reported this morning for training in advance of their first play-off match on Saturday against their stubborn rivals Hapoel Ramat Hasharon (Bloomfield Stadium, 7.30 P.M.) Before the training the club held a press conference attended by head coach Oscar Garcia and defender Eitan Tibi. Garcia spoke at the club snapping at Maccabi Tel Aviv's heels at the top of the premiere league table, Maccabi Haifa: "I couldn't really say if we were the favourites (for the championship), we certainly have to improve because we're going into a critical period and we have to play at the very highest level we can". Regarding differences with last season he said: "I wanted to improve the individual ability of the players as well as the overall ability of the team as a whole, it's vital not to look towards the end of the season but to focus each time on the next match because the next three points are always the ones that count. We're reaching the critical phase and that's when we have to be at our best". Concerning Hapoel Ramat Hasharon he commented: "The last time we met them at Bloomfield they played defensively and covered every space on the pitch and I think that's how they'll play on Saturday too. Our goal-scoring statistics are very good and very important so every player has to do a good job."
Dfender Eitan Tibi talked about his season and said: "This is an excellent season for me but won't know until the end if it's my best. I know my own worth and I have specific goals and a specific path to achieve them, I want to succeed at Maccabi Tel Aviv and do my best to ensure the whole team succeed as well. Success means staying where we are right now, what's left is the championship and that's the most important thing and we intend to go all the way". About his season at Maccabi and transferring from Kiryat Shmona at the beginning of the season he said: "I was happy from the moment I made the move to Maccabi, I liked it a lot at Kiryat Shmona and I wish them the best of luck but my focus is on the future with Maccabi. The fans are really great here and the training is at a very high level – preparing us for every match. They're at a very rigourous pace and we're always told precisely how we have to improve". As to Saturday's rival he responded: "Our matches against them this season have been difficult but we're prepared to do our job and win, Ramat Hasharon is a gpod club, it's not a coincidence they're in the play-offs."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RREkJCZmjcI
