Eran Zahavi, who scored both of Maccabi's goals in last night's draw at Kiryat Shmona, is already looking ahead: "We're in good form and we have to keep it that way"
The Maccabi Tel Aviv squad have had the day off after drawing 2-2 against Ironi Kiryat Shmona, restoring their eight point advantage at the top of the Israeli Premier League table. After the match, head coach Paulo Sousa spoke about how he felt about the result: "On the one hand a good feeling because I saw my team produce one of the best games in the domestic league, against a team that are difficult to play, especially when they play at home, where they practically don't risk anything, look to play only in the back third, a team with really quick, strong players, also in individual challenges. For all these reasons they required from us lots of attention and lots of high intensity work, but we produced fantastic football. Straight away in the first half we were dominant with good chances to score and get the advantage. The second half was more or less the same but we also conceded to the opponent the possibility, sometimes from nothing, to think they could get points, and that happened in the end. My feelings are only the best ones because we were completely dominant, we deserved to win today because we performed really really well".
Asked about the defensive mishap that led to Kiryat Shmona's second goal, Sousa replied: "I think it's part of the game, these things can happen. To progress as a club, to progress as a team, to progress as an individual player, we need to be strict about our football philosophy, and if we've done so in practically all the games so far it's not that when things like that happen we're not following our way. These things happen and hopefully in the next games it won't happen anymore because again, we controlled the game well, creating lots of chances. We were the better team and we deserved to win. We're looking at things game by game. I think it was disappointing for us, especially for me, to get only one point in a difficult game against a difficult team. We defended really well, really intensely. The final match statistics were amazing. We came here to perform like we always perform. We performed really really well and we deserved to win".
Sousa was also asked about the redeployment of a number of the players for yesterday's game, in particular holding midfielder Gal Alberman: "In some dynamic situations we ask of certain players to play in a way they are not always so used to, but we believe in them because we test, we work. Everything you saw out there, it doesn't just happen. It happens because we coach, we train and the players understand. So far we've been successful and I'm really happy that my players understand what needs to be done during each game. And today we requested from Gal certain things and he produced a fantastic game ".
Midfielder Eran Zahavi, who scored both of Maccabi's goals, also turned his attention the incident that enabled Kiryat Shmona to draw level close to the end of the match: "Perhaps we were a bit annoyed at the end of the match, but it wasn't a matter of any player in particular. We win as a team, we lose as a team. We conceded a soft goal but at the end of the day we played very well tonight so kudos to everyone, also to Kiryat Shmona because they're an excellent side. We're already looking ahead. I feel like we missed an opportunity here, especially after having played so well at one of the most difficult venues in the country. We wish Kiryat Shmona the best of luck in their Cup semi-final".
Zahavi also had a word to say about the forthcoming crucial stage of the Israeli Premier League season: "It's been our goal from the start of the season to always be progressing, to get better and better results and to look better and better. I'm happy that we've been in a bit better form the past few weeks. We had a little dip for a while but that's changed. It's important to keep it that way in order to get the results we want going forward".
Striker Barak Badash, returning for the first time to Kiryat Shmona since joining Maccabi in the January transfer window, received a bouquet of flowers from his old club before the match: "Obviously it wasn't just another match for me, especially coming back for the first time after spending almost four spectacular years here. I enjoyed every minute, really, but now I'm someplace else and of course I want to make a go of it at Maccabi. I wish them the best of luck in whatever they do because Kiryat Shmona are a team really close to my heart".
"As for the match itself, the bottom line is – we made a good game of it tonight, we controlled the match, especially in the first half, and we were in front twice. But we conceded a goal, a bit on the soft side, and had to settle for a draw. But it's a tough venue to play in and a team who play their best at home, who knows that better than me. We have to continue to work very hard. It'll be difficult for anyone to close the gap we've got at the top but still, if we can perform the way we did today I think they'll be a lot of joy at the end of the season".
On Sunday Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Maccabi Haifa at Bloomfield Stadium after having beaten the both home and away this season: "That's a tie we want very much to win, and not because we'd be making history by beating them three times in one season but because we want to edge closer to the title. It'll be a difficult match, Maccabi Tel Aviv against Maccabi Haifa, that's always a cracker. But at home the points should be ours".