Nigerian midfielder Nosa Igiebor has no doubt last night's win was not because the opponent was weak: "I don't think any opponent is weak"
There's no better cure for a defeat than a victory, and that's precisely what Maccabi Tel Aviv gave themselves last night against Hapoel Haifa. They went back to doing what they'd done in the four games prior to the loss at Kiryat Shmona, and head coach Pako Ayestaran is confident the team are on the right track: "We were coming from a good run from Acre, Ashdod, and I think we played well against Hapoel (Tel Aviv) as well. It was a step back in Kiryat Shmona. It wasn't a great game today, especially in the first half, but we were able to win the game". The coach made three changes from the eleven that opened in Kiryat Shmona but explained that it wasn't losing there that motivated him: "I never make any changes because we lose a game. It's because we have depth in the squad and I have to see every player and be sure we have enough players to fight for every trophy".
Much like the 10,000 some odd Maccabi fans who came to see the game last night in Netanya, the Spaniard also enjoyed the performance of star midfielder Eran Zahavi: "I think we are lucky to have him and for many years to come I think he's the best thing that can happen to Maccabi, to keep Eran Zahavi". But did the coach feel the team were too dependent on his skills? "I think every good team, and they're a good team, has good players, and there is always one that shines a little bit more. And Zahavi is in our team for now". Does that mean he might be leaving? "When someone is performing and is a good player he always has his options. The question is if Maccabi is able to create the right environment, the right project, then it's a good option for Eran Zahavi".
As he's done after every other match, the coach shared some of his thoughts about the shape of the game and the players' performances, in particular Nigerian midfielder Nosa Igiebor, who has come in for some public criticism of late: "I respect their opinion, but again I am the one who has to take decisions. After the substitution of Gal (Alberman), we thought that in the second half it is better to play with just two midfielders and I think he was at a great level. The question is you have to take a decision depending on how everything is working. Gal is an important player and sometimes he will be in the eleven and sometimes he won't be and sometimes he will be substituted, like every player". But didn't the coach believe that with just two holding midfielders you have more options going forward? "No, it depends because against Ashdod and Acre we played 4-3-3 and we were really fluent. It always depends, especially if you want to be fluent with 4-3-3. How the two centre backs and the holding midfielder move the ball is so important. There are games they're not at their best and you have to change. And we are lucky that we have players to play in our different shapes depending on how we're performing".
Centre-back Carlos Garcia, who endured a difficult time after having his behaviour at the Tel Aviv derby subjected to public scrutiny, took the opportunity to express his feelings and his gratitude: "I only want to say thank you very much to the fans. I don't have words to say thank you for their support today in Netanya, and counting these three days, people that came to Kiryat Shalom, people that spoke with me in the street. It means a lot for me. The worst time for a player and they are supporting me, I just want to say thank you, thank you very much. Thank you to my team-mates who supported me, the staff, the medical staff, the workers, the club. Of course my wife and my family that pushed me, my friends here in Israel I want to say thank you very much".
Nosa Igiebor began by responding to a question about his inclusion in the starting line-up for the fifth consecutive match: "I think that's up to the coach, it's not up to me. The coach makes the decision who plays and doesn't play, so that question is for the coach". Asked if he felt the crowd were unhappy about his first-half performance the midfielder replied: "I don't think of people you understand. I don't think of anybody, I just think about the team, what the coach tells me to do and going to the field to do it. But you know sometimes I think the people talk. Every time I go on to the pitch and the coach asks me to play ten balls back I have to do it because I have to play the next game. But the fans don't know and some of the supporters don't know these things and they shout. But to be honest I don't think about their shouting or whatever, I just think about the coach. If he gives me an instruction then I go out there to do it. If he wants me to go on the offence I can go on the offence. If he wants me to be defensive I can do it. I've played in big leagues in the world so why should I come to Israel and be scared of shouting? It doesn't move me".
And what about the competition at Maccabi for places on the squad in general? "It's difficult. As a player, if you're not mentally strong you can lose your confidence. But for me I like this kind of challenge so it doesn't really bother me. I'm just here to enjoy myself, play for the team. I'm not at my best. Little by little I'm getting to understand the players better than when I arrived. I think it will definitely be okay".
The Nigerian was also asked if he thought Maccabi's success on the night was due more to changes in approach or to the weakness of the opponent: "I don't think any opponent is weak. We did a different style of play. Before the two wingers used to be more in offence and today the coach said no, we don't want you guys to go forward and I think this helped, this worked for us".
Barak Levy, who opened in goal for the second consecutive time, spoke of the match in light of his previous outing against Kiryat Shmona: "That game boosted my confidence too. Mistakes happen and will happen again but I started tonight with a clear head and I enjoyed it. What's most important is that I didn't concede. At Kiryat Shmona I think I was a bit unlucky, I hadn't even touched the ball before it was in the net, but some things are beyond your control. The coach is helping me a lot, I came into the match feeling quite good and confident and I did my job, I kept a clean sheet. That's all I'm working for".
"Maccabi is my home, I'm five years on the senior squad and I feel great here. I work hard every day – I've worked with the best and I've learned from each and every one of them, the goalkeeping coach at Maccabi is the best in the country. As for the team, we've only ourselves to look out for and if we play well we don't have to look out for any other club".
Eran Zahavi, whose brace brought his season league total to eleven goals, had this to say: "Personally it's brilliant but it's more important that the team won, and just as important that we kept a clean sheet, important for Barak Levy and for the whole team, because in recent matches we've been conceding and that's not down to our defence but down to the whole team". The star midfielder was also asked about the team's dependence on his qualities as a player. Zahavi: "I'm more dependent on the team than they are on me. They're indispensable to me and when we play as a team it's much easier for me to do my thing as well. I scored and that's great, but without the team it wouldn't happen".
