Despite losing the final match of 2012/13 last night to Bnei Yehuda, Maccabi defender Eitan Tibi is still alive with the extraordinary experiences of this Championship season. Midfielder Dor Micha agrees: "After all we've accomplished this year, that doesn't change a thing"
Maccabi Tel Aviv entered last night's final game of the 2012/13 season having won just over 90% of their home matches, but wound up losing for just the second time at home. Ádám Hrepka, Kfir Edri and Amir Agaiev all scored for city neighbours Bnei Yehuda to hand Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv a 0-3 defeat, their first since their league round 19 loss to Ashdod FC in January. Despite the loss the team tried to look at the positives, as did assistant head coach Ruben Martinez, who filled head coach Oscar Garcia's shoes following the latter's touchline ban: "Unfortunate to lose the last match of the season, we wanted to win it for the fans and also to get into the record books for winning the title by the widest possible margin but we failed and also lost our first match of the play-offs. But that's the nature of the game, it happens, they were simply better at converting the chances they had and we didn't convert ours at all".
Young midfielder Dor Micha added his feelings about the loss: "It hurts a bit to lose your last match, the first time we've lost like this all season. But on the other hand look at all we've accomplished this year, that doesn't change a thing". Defender Eitan Tibi added: "It would have been really sweet to finish with a 16 point advantage and it's a pity we lost, but anyway it was a really fantastic season. We didn't want it to end this way, especially with all our fans there, but it's over now and now we have to prepare for next season. Some of us will get a bit more holiday than others, but I hope we'll all come back refreshed and ready to get started again".
Maccabi Tel Aviv's sports director Jordi Cruyff also has his eyes on the 2013/14 season: "Next season we start all over again and it's crucial that we all hit the ground running because it's going to take everything we have to stay on top, we're going to have to continue to improve every aspect of our game. Getting to the group stages of the Champions League is going to be very difficult because we're not seeded, but it's a definite possibility for us to succeed in European competition".
At the end of last night's match Argentinian born striker Roberto Colautti took his leave from the club to generous applause from the Maccabi fans: "I was so moved by the reaction of the supporters at the end, Maccabi Tel Aviv have absolutely fantastic fans. They were with us every step of the way and made us feel ever so special". He also looked back at the special moments for him in this Championship season: "We had some brilliant times this campaign, especially the matches at the beginning of the season and coming from behind against Hapoel Ramat Hasharon, that was simply magic. It came after a run of losses, one more and the season might have turned out quite differently. I'm happy I was able to contribute my goal to that effort".
