Maccabi captain Sheran Yeini is fully aware of the long road ahead: "We're constantly thinking of ways to improve"
After a delay of three weeks, the long awaited opening of the 2014/15 Israeli Premier League season has finally got underway and last night reigning champions Maccabi Tel Aviv made easy work of kicking off their title defence, scoring three goals and keeping a clean sheet at Maccabi Petach Tikva's "Moshava" Stadium. "I'm happy with the result, winning is always good," said new Maccabi head coach Pako Ayesteran after the match. "As for the performance itself, we started out well but weren't able to maintain the same level throughout the match and of course that leaves room for improvement. We let some good chances go begging, but that's football, sometimes you score, sometimes you don't. Most important is that the players gave it their all, they did their very best".
The Spaniard was asked to evaluate his squad's strength at this early stage of the season: "I've never seen a coach who in a fortnight could succeed in building a team exactly the way they want to. I'm confident these players have the potential to play better and that's what will happen. It's hard to say where we are right now as far as improving our abilities. Sometimes it seems like the players are close to their potential, sometimes they look like they're a long way from improving. We'll take it one step at a time, we'll get to know the players better and we'll try to get all of them beyond their present constraints".
Asked if he intended to keep Eran Zahavi in his striking role for upcoming matches as well, Ayestaran responded: "I know what I did today but as for the future, who knows. It depends on the position, upon the performances of other players and the formation I'll want to play with". The coach was also asked about the players who tonight were left out of the side altogether: "There a number of other players in the squad and what's most important is the team and not any individual player. My decisions are for the best interest of the team, of the club and how to get the best results. It's nothing to do with how hard they work in training, I simply have to choose and for some matches I choose particular players and for the next one others".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKSCpT9zMjw&list=UU-oWQqnf8B8a_TsmVi0mTUg
Rade Prica came off the bench to score his third goal of the season in all competitions: "Of course I always want to play but whenever you come in you have to make the most of it and I'm happy I scored. Having that kind of depth in the squad is not necessarily a problem. There are lots of good players but not all of them can play at once. We just have to do our very best and support one another and if we do that we'll have a successful season. I was not included in the last match and that only shows how many good strikers we have and we have to work hard at every practice to prove we deserve a place. As for me personally, I wasn't on my way out at all, just a lot of rumours. I'm here to stay".
The Swedish striker, who headed in a ball from another substitute, young midfielder Moshe "Moshiko" Lugassi, talked about the significance of tonight's win: "The first league match of the season is always hard. You want to get a good start, to get up to speed quickly, and tonight we showed that we're definitely in the running. There's still a lot we can improve on but winning 0-3 on the first day of the league season, that shows strength".
After tonight's handsome victory, team captain Sheran Yeini preferred to stay focused on the team's objectives: "You don't win a title on the first day of the season. We're constantly thinking of ways to improve, what good and bad things we can learn from our performance and carry on with the good ones. We're a work in progress and we want to carry on improving as the season goes along. We have to improve if we want to control the matches and ensure better displays that can produce winning results".
The skipper was reminded of the fact that the team hadn't yet conceded a goal this season in domestic competition: "That's not an objective in itself, not conceding for a certain number of games. That's what happens when you work hard and that's what we focus on at practices. We don't like shipping goals and we talk about it among ourselves. It starts with pressure from the attackers, who make our job as defenders that much easier".
Yeini also offered his take on the depth of the Maccabi squad and its significance: "It's an amazing squad and in theory it makes our lives that much more difficult. In practice though we'll be a better team because everybody has to maintain their fitness because if they don't someone else will take their place. Tonight (striker) Eden Ben Basat wasn't in the side but I'm sure he'll have a fantastic season. I'm also sure he'll see the positive side of it and he'll play in the next match. He'll score a brace and the whole matter will be forgotten".
