This morning the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad are holding a practice ahead of Saturday's away tie against municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda at Bloomfield Stadium at 8pm. Ticket sales are still underway – click here for further information.
At the traditional pre-match press conference, Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Paulo Sousa talked about spending his first Christmas in Israel: "It's different celebrating Christmas in Israel, we're keen on keeping our traditions together with our families but we also have to carry on with our work and hold team practices because we have a match on Saturday". Referring to Saturday's rival Bnei Yehuda he said: "At a team that have just switched head coaches there's a lot of motivation and for us to be ready we have to find out what might be different from what we've seen of the club up till now. Our game principles won't be any different but we have to be prepared to identify any changes our opponents might bring to the match. Our training this week is not just for this match because we have to stick to our game plan for the players to put on good displays and of course we have a strategy for each match. We're getting ready the same way, we insist on the players being focused, both mentally and tactically. To win you have to work hard not only during matches but at every practice as well".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1bn3nykaw0
As for choosing his squad he said: "My players are all professionals and they have to demonstrate to me that they're keen on playing and only then do I make my decision". As for the January transfer window he added: "Any changes go through (sports director) Jordi (Cruyff) and (owner representative) Jack (Angelides) of course, we always want to improve our quality in light of what's available on the market in order to strengthen the squad, and that depends on how much the club are prepared to invest. Our goal is always to nurture competition for every position".
Team striker Rade Prica, who scored against Bnei Yehuda in this season's first round of Premier League matches and a brace in the parallel fixture last season, also had a word to say about Saturday's opponent: "It's always rough going against Bnei Yehuda, their holding up the table is a bit of a distortion, they're better than that. They're very likely to improve under their new coach (Yossi Abukasis, former player and current assistant national coach, now in his second term at Bnei Yehuda) and it will definitely be a difficult match". As for his inclusion in the match he added: "We have an excellent squad and it's important for as many players as possible get time on the pitch, I'm always disappointed when I don't play but that's football and you have to be professional about it and help the team whatever way you can". Now approaching the end of his first year in Israel, Prica was asked about how he felt: "I feel just fine, if I'd have had the opportunity I would have come a few years earlier. I love Maccabi, the club, the fans, the people. I've never felt a moment of regret that I chose to come here".
