Dan Einbinder is hoping Maccabi can erase in Cyprus the one-goal deficit from the first leg in Slovenia. Eitan Tibi: "Thanks to all the fans coming to Larnaca"
A few hours before the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad took off for Cyprus, midfielder Dan Einbinder and defender Eitan Tibi answered questions at a press conference ahead of the team's critical second-leg contest against 3rd round Champions League qualifying opponents NK Maribor. Maccabi go into the match trailing 1-0 on aggregate and will play this "home" leg outside Israel due to the current security situation. Nonetheless, Einbinder feels that shouldn't make a difference: "It goes without saying that if the match were held in Tel Aviv at Bloomfield, it would be a lot easier for us. Playing in Cyprus makes it a bigger challenge, but so far we're concerned that's no excuse. We're going into the match fully prepared, we know exactly what we want and need to do to reach the next round, and like I said, the challenge may be greater but we're hoping to be up for it. We didn't score last time out but that's only half the story, it's just the first match and at the end of the day we'll be judged on the full result".
Einbinder, who came off the bench in that first encounter, also had a word to say about the possibility the team wouldn't reach the Champions League play-off round: "It wouldn't count as a failure. When we won the league championship at the end of last season they also asked us if this year's objective was the Champions League. That's a great challenge and a personal dream of mine as well as that of the whole team to play in the Champions League but the objective was and remains the league and to go forward with our domestic campaign in the best way possible. We want to meet the challenge of the Champions League head on and we'll do everything possible to do just that and get the desired result tomorrow".
Einbinder also wished to say a word about the disturbances at yesterday's practice, when a small group burst on to the training pitch and shouted insults at team players Mahran Radi and Ben Reichert. "Mahran and Ben are our team-mates and we stand fully behind them, all the way to the end, our dressing room is completely united. There's no room for that kind of thing at our club, it's extremely unpleasant. I'm really sorry it happens but on the other hand it's just a small group of people and there's no reason to blow it out of proportion. I didn't speak to these people personally but perhaps some of the more experienced players did or will do. Because first and foremost all of our players should feel good about being here".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMM6SJWTKCo
"Let's not forget that our fans are among the greatest anywhere, absolutely brilliant and supportive under all circumstances. I mean, just take the fact that so many of them are coming along to Cyprus to cheer us on, despite the difficult situation at home. That just shows you how fantastic and supportive our fans are, so of course when little things like this happen we condemn them outright. No need to give such insignificant things even more publicity".
Defender Eitan Tibi added to his team-mate's remarks on the subject: "I agree that the matter got a bit out of proportion. As a club we're against racism and so far we're concerned there's no place for it, not in football or anywhere else for that matter. I'm happy to say that these are just a small number of people but still it's very unpleasant for all of us that some players get abused like that and I hope the situation will change very soon. We're a team and we're united behind one another. That's what's got us the results so far and that's what will continue to get us results, without it we won't get anywhere".
Not surprisingly, Tibi too was asked what he thought Maccabi's chances were of getting to the Champions League play-off round, but the central defender first wished to say a word to the club's supporters who were heading out to Cyprus to show their support: "First of all I want to thank all the fans who are coming to the match tomorrow. That's not something you take for granted, especially considering the situation in the country at the moment and it just shows how supportive our fans are and how much they want us to get to the next round. Let's face it, it's a "home away from home" game but this team of ours is very strong and we have a game plan and we intend to put this one in the win column. We don't know how the game will develop but we'll have to deal with whatever turns up and win. I'm not going to get into which side is stronger, I know what my side are worth, it's a great team out to win every game and that's what we'll be looking to do tomorrow".
