Coach Sousa: “We can face up to our rivals”

Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Paulo Sousa remains optimistic about the return leg against FC Basel but counsels seeing things in proportion: "Let's not forget who we're up against"

The night before the return leg of the Champions League qualifier between Maccabi Tel Aviv and FC Basel, both clubs were present at the official press conference prior to the match. "We shall have to get the very best out of ourselves, because sometimes we're inclined to somewhat overlook the reality", MTA head coach Paulo Sousa said speaking of his team's rival. "But based on how we performed primarily in the second half of the match last week we saw that we're strong enough to stand up to our opponents". He added: "After analysing the match a number of times I understood that first and foremost we have to realise who we're up against, my players are capable of dealing with an opponent stronger than ourselves. I hope that from the very first moment of the match to the very last, our supporters will instill in us belief and fill us with the energy we need to be stronger than our opponents. Since the end of the match in Basel I have had that feeling of confidence from my players that we will do everything possible to get the most out of ourselves".

Midfielder Gal Alberman, who has been a participant in any number of dramatic European "battles", first related to last week's match: "When you face an opponent at the level of Basel you have to understand that the way you perform against them, that's how they'll respond to you. I believe we've learnt our lessons from the first half, and we mustn't forget that we faced a very difficult opponent away. Bloomfield Stadium is an exceptional experience for all of our players and I hope that our supporters will give us that extra push during the match. As for their Egyptian player, we're asking our fans not to get involved in provocations so we can focus on the football". 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YQvHtPHOyk

Prior to Maccabi's press conference, FC Basel head coach Murat Yakin and team captain Marco Streller spoke with representatives of the local media: "We have to put on a strong performance and create chances just like we did during the first half in the home leg", said Yakin. "I'd prefer to be optimistic and not to think about relegation. In the first leg we were the favourites, and tomorrow Maccabi will be the favourites because it's a home match and it's likely to be a sell-out crowd. It's only to be expected that Maccabi will go on the attack so we'll have to conform our style of play to the demands of the match".

The FC Basel president spoke about the controversy surrounding the club's two Egyptian players: "I don't care where my players come from, Germany, France or Egypt. Our players' job is to play football, the situation is complicated for the Egyptian players but we've decided that for the sake of the team they're joining us in Israel. The players themselves have never asked not to come to Israel, I suggest we forget about everything that's appeared in the headlines".

Basel's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah, who has recently had statements attributed to him that have heated up the atmosphere in the run up to the match, had this to say about the media storm surrounding him: "I came to Israel because I am a football player, we want to advance in the Champions League and that's the only thing that interests me. Regardless of what some people say they saw in the media about me making a political statement, it's simply untrue".