MTA captain Sheran Yeini ahead of the training camp in Austria: "10 years we didn't win the title. We won't be forgetting that"
With an early morning practice at the Kiryat Shalom training ground, the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad today completed preparations ahead of a day off tomorrow and their Friday departure for Vienna and a ten-day training camp in Austria. Before the practice, team captain Sheran Yeini and winger Tal Ben Haim both took time out to speak with the press. Yeini opened the proceedings by speaking about the changes in the coaching staff that have recently taken place at the club: "These are people we know. It's a pleasure to work with a staff like that, whether it's the fitness coach, the assistant coaches or the gaffer himself. There's a good atmosphere at the practices and we couldn't be happier. This staff are on a par with last year's team, the best there is in fact, only good things to say about that".
"We've got players here who are hungry for top results. Let's not forget that for ten years we didn't win the title and that desire is still alive and well, so we're ready to fire on all engines. The coaching staff are doing their bit to prepare us mentally, with the help of the team psychologist, so no worries in that regard. And even if last year's staff have left there's still a sense of continuity, the routines are very much alike and that's good for us. The style of the work we do with the fitness coach has stayed pretty much the same over the past two years, also on the pitch and in training as far as principles go for passing and receiving the ball, so we're really happy".
The Maccabi skipper was also asked about the possibility that the team's star midfielder Eran Zahavi might be tempted to leave the club if he gets a good offer abroad: "Eran is no different than any other player, he keeps himself to himself and that's perfectly legitimate, in his position we'd all do exactly the same. I can say though that so far Eran is concerned everybody on the team and at the club wants him to stay. If he can take a step up financially or professionally at another club, we'll be sorry to see him go. But at the same time we'll be happy for him, stand behind him to the end, wish him all the best. He's a great player and that's what they look for in Europe, players with his kind of ability, and I'm sure there are plenty of clubs that would love to have him, including Maccabi Tel Aviv".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im6uHfR-_IQ
Yeini also commented on Maccabi's draw for the Champions League 2nd round qualifiers: "Had a bit of a laugh when I saw we might be playing Santa Coloma again. But it would be pointless to start thinking about it before we know which side we'll be facing. The group stage is the highest level you can achieve so it won't be easy but that's where we want to be anyway. But our first priority is to get as far as we can in Europe and if that's the group stage of the Champions League, well, that would be a dream come true, a real experience for all of us. And if it's the Europa League we'll still be over the moon because it'll give us a lot of experience we can use in our attempts to get to the Champions League in years to come".
Winger Tal Ben Haim is entering his second season with the club and already feels completely at home: "This is the third senior team I'm playing for and no doubt about it, Maccabi Tel Aviv are on a different level altogether. You can see the results on the pitch and how the club have performed over the past two years, and not it's not just about how well we play. And if you're asking about hunger, well, I don't think there's a professional footballer who needs to develop his appetite, especially at a club like Maccabi Tel Aviv. He has to get up with it every morning, aspire to excellence and work on holding on to what we've achieved the past two years. Because being a part of the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad, well, that's something you don't take for granted. If you get that chance you'd better make good use of it every minute".
When it was suggested that the opponents the team will be facing in friendlies during their ten-day training camp in Austria are not exactly household names in Europe, Ben Haim appeared unconcerned: "I don't think who we play at the training camp makes much difference. We're just starting out and we already have our first game on Saturday with less than a fortnight's training under our belts. We're not even close to being at the level we want to be at our first European match, so it's not so important who we play at the training camp. They're not amateur clubs and I'm sure it'll be no walk in the park because, like I said, we're nowhere near the level we'll be at at the beginning of the season. We're just going there to get ourselves in shape and get as much out of it as we can".
"The coaching staff we have now, like the one we had last year, are at the very highest level, but still they're different. I haven't yet had the opportunity to get to know (head coach) Oscar (Garcia) that well, I've only been training with him for less than a week. But I can see he's an excellent coach and I see no reason why we can't repeat our successes of the last couple of years. I'm not interested in the rest of the teams in the league. Right now a club as big as Maccabi are only dependent on themselves. If we do what we have to do from start to finish, they'll be no reason to look at the other clubs. Right now I'm a Maccabi Tel Aviv player and of course I'd love to play at a European club someday but right now I'm here and I'm more than happy. I want to improve on my last season's performance and right now that's my only objective".
Sheran Yeini summed things up: "We have a very good squad who have been playing together for the past three or four years. I remember seasons that Maccabi Haifa had the same squad in two consecutive years and they were just as good, so I don't see us falling off either. Other clubs try to strengthen their squads and that's good for football in general here in Israel. I'm sure we'll be bringing in new players but like everyone says, (sports director) Jordi (Cruyff) is one of the reasons for the club's success and he does his job well, so I'll leave that whole subject to him. It doesn't look like any of the other clubs have been all that busy in the market either so we'll wait and see".
