Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Barak Itzhaki, who sustained an injury in the warm-up to the team's Europa League match at FC Basel, is expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time
Maccabi Tel Aviv's experienced striker Barak Itzhaki, who was expected to start in the team's Europa League round of 32 match at FC Basel on Thursday night, was injured in the warm-up to that match and was taken to hospital at half time to undergo an MRI. The results indicate he suffered a tear to his cruciate ligament. The club's sport's director, Jordi Cruyff, had this to say about Itzhaki's injury: "The news before the game was very very bad news for us. Basically at this moment that's the only thing I can really think about, you know how to lift the morale of this player, with his influence and importance for us".
Team midfielder Eran Zahavi also spoke about the anticipated absence of the squad's star forward: "We've just heard the news and we're devastated. First of all because he's an essential lynchpin in our team, both professionally and without question socially. There's not much we can do about the situation, we'll give him as much support as we possibly can and do everything we can to assure that he's back with us as quickly as possible".
His teammates from the Maccabi attack, Swedish striker Rade Prica and winger Tal Ben Haim, concurred with Zahavi's sentiments: "It's always difficult when you hear about your own players getting injuries like that," Prica said. "Now we have to support Barak. We're going to play the league for Barak". Ben Haim added: "Me and all the other lads on the team are very sad to hear about Barak's injury. Our efforts now will be to minimise the consequences of his absence, because there's no question his absence will be felt".
