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Maccabi returned to domestic duties with a goalless draw against Maccabi Netanya in the "Toto" Cup. Omri Ben Harush: "We're only thinking about the match ahead of us"

A day after beginning their 2014/15 season domestic duties with a goalless draw against Maccabi Netanya in the "Toto" (League) Cup, the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad returned to training this morning before enjoying a well-deserved day off on Thursday. On Friday they'll begin their preparations for Saturday night's second round "Toto" Cup tie against Hapoel Ra'anana. Last night's match featured a considerable number of home-grown Maccabi Tel Aviv players, including the senior team debut of four of last year's Under-19 squad. "We wanted to see some players who haven't played in many season openers", responded head coach Oscar Garcia to questions about his impressions after the match. "We wanted to see some young players and I think (young midfielder) Dor Peretz played a fantastic game. I was impressed how these youngsters played".

Garcia also responded to criticism in the press of how the team have performed so far this season: "It's obvious that we need to improve something but we are in the pre-season, a new coach, new players and two of them arrived only a week and a half ago. We couldn't work with them and now they are not here. But it's obvious at this time in the season that we need to improve". Asked about the value of the league cup matches in the run up to the team's European qualifiers and the start of the domestic season, the coach replied: "Instead of practise sessions we have games. It's good for the players to get fitter and fitter".

Garcia also had a word to say about the influence on the team of being eliminated from the Champions League and the prospects for their further European campaign: "Of course they are not happy because everybody wanted to go through but we need to forget this and to be focused on (Europa League play-off rivals) Asteras and prepare now to play against them. Asteras are a good side, they beat a big team like Mainz but we've a good squad too and we'll do our best to go through. I can tell you everyone will give 100%, and if someone can't, well, they simply won't play. I wanted to play in Europe, we're playing in Europe. Obviously we want to go far and after these two matches we'll see where we stand".

Defender Omri Ben Harush, who came to Maccabi Tel Aviv last season from Maccabi Netanya, was asked if perhaps the players' concerns about the Europa League match next week weakened their focus on the evening's domestic encounter: "Each match we play is our highest priority. We go into every game with a view to achieving the goals we set for ourselves before the match. Tonight we had a few of the young lads playing, we ran out the team a bit more, pulled ourselves together a bit more and we'll carry on. We take every match as it comes, each match is important so far we're concerned. Tonight we focused on this match and now we'll set our sights on the next one".

The defender continued: "We have to reconsolidate the team, get back on the track we were on at the end of last season, and this match was a step in that direction. Don't forget that for a lot of the players this is a new coach, some players more than others. It's a new squad, a lot of players who just joined us and it takes time to pull all that together. We may look a bit vulnerable, but at the end of the day we're there at every match, giving it everything we have. We'll just have to see how things work out".