Despite the disappointment last night at Maribor, the MTA squad already have their sights on next week's return leg
The morning following their last-minute 1-0 defeat to Slovenian champions NK Maribor in the first leg of their 3rd round Champions League qualifier, the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad were already out on the pitch preparing for the second leg next week in Cyprus. The team held a full practice at the training ground next to the hotel belonging to the second tier Slovenian side NK Aluminij, with only members who played the full 90 minutes last night limiting themselves to a post-match workout. The squad will return to Israel tonight on a chartered direct flight from Maribor and are expected to land at Ben Gurion airport at 12.50am on Friday.
At the end of the match last night MTA captain Sheran Yeini called upon Maccabi fans to turn out in numbers to support the team in Cyprus: "I know the situation is difficult and far from ideal because right now, football is not the country's highest priority. If the match would be played at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Maribor wouldn't stand a chance against us, and that's why we need each and every one of you with us in Larnaca. Let's show them that even in Cyprus we can create the kind of 'home' atmosphere the way only you know how to do it".
Also speaking after the match, Maccabi head coach said: "In the first half we were better. It's not easy coming here and playing well, we've a whole host of problems back home and it's hard for the lads to focus on football at the moment, but I'm proud of my players on how they played tonight and in general. In the second half we had trouble controlling the run of play, Maribor were better and it's particularly painful to concede at the final whistle. I expected Maribor to play better, I never thought they'd put eleven men behind the ball and wait for the break, but every side play the way they see fit and in the end it paid off. We had some good chances in front of goal but lacked the final touch".
'I think next week's match will be very similar, we'll try to keep the ball and they'll try to catch us on the break. Despite everything I'm still optimistic and believe in my players who put in a good first-half performance so there's no reason we shouldn't get to the next stage. It's hard playing in Cyprus, if we were playing at home the situation would be entirely different because at Bloomfield the atmosphere is brilliant and the fans push the players on. Having to play in Cyprus is a heavy blow, but it's out of our hands. It's definitely not like playing at home".
