Maccabi head coach Pako Ayestaran is preparing his squad for tomorrow's encounter with league leaders Kiryat Shmona: "Maybe the most successful team of the last five years in Israel"
Maccabi Tel Aviv are now making final preparations for tomorrow night's intriguing tie away at Israeli Premier League leaders Ironi Kiryat Shmona. After having missed out on the 3-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya due to suspension, midfielder Eran Zahavi is poised to return to the squad, as is midfielder Dan Einbinder, who after being sidelined with injury for over three months played the full 90 minutes in the friendly last week against the Under-19s. Head coach Pako Ayestaran had this to say about the upcoming match: "We play against the leader, against the best team of 2014/15, it will be a tough game. Ah, if I would be able to control the weather, but I cannot. In this case we will see what the conditions are and we will try to cope with them. There isn't any other solution. But it's true we play against the leader and they are the ones. Normally when you go to play on the leader's field they are the ones who have to win the game".
Pako was asked if after observing Kiryat Shmona he'd noticed any weaknesses Maccabi could take advantage of: "No advantages. I repeat again, the best team of season 2014/15, and not only this year, maybe the most successful team of the last five years in Israel. I think no-one has won more trophies than them – two 'Toto' Cups, one State Cup, one semi-final, one championship. In this case we are playing against a real strong team and a strong club". So what did he think might be the key to winning? "Be ourselves, I repeat, be ourselves. I already said the worst enemy is always yourself. If we're able to show our best level we'll have a chance. If we are not able to show our best level we won't have a chance because we are playing, I repeat, against the best team of 2014/15, and that is Kiryat Shmona. I told you, the best team 2014/15 by far, and now we're the runners-up. We are the ones who have to show that maybe we deserve to be there. But for now the only ones who have shown they deserve to be leaders are Kiryat Shmona".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gXr82-dQc4&feature=youtu.be
In that case, the assembled journalists wondered, would a standard Maccabi performance be enough to win the encounter: "No way. No way because they have shown that they are unbeaten this year, unbeaten, no-one has been able to beat them. In this case we need our best version because it's not going to be enough with an average performance. Look, one of the great sentences I've heard this year from one of my players was 'I would like to win the right to be here'. And this is what we have to do. We have to show that we've got the right to fight for this championship". And was he concerned about having to substitute the suspended Juan Pablo with back-up goalkeeper Barak Levy: "With a goalkeeper who is in the squad? He's in Maccabi because he has the qualities to be here".
As one might expect, the head coach was also asked if he feared recent events surrounding the Tel Aviv derby might have an effect on his players: "No effect at all. The only thing that can affect us is that maybe we will have to do a little bit more than the rest of the teams because we are probably going to be dropped by five points, penalised with five points. It's something that happened, but we have to deal with that and carry on at some point. It's something that is out of our control. The only thing in our control is to do the best today to prepare in the best way for the game with Kiryat Shmona and go for the game".
Ex-Kiryat Shmona player, central defender Eitan Tibi, also had a word to say about the upcoming fixture: "Kiryat Shmona have played extraordinary football the last few years. As I've experienced the team are well bonded and they have players of outstanding quality. But we have to focus on ourselves, we're a top team with our own goals and aspirations and I believe we can make all that happen. We're involved in a process at the moment and I'm sure that soon we'll stop shipping goals. But even when we do concede, we're still a good side. We're preparing ourselves for every aspect of the game and I'm sure we'll be fine. Right now Kiryat Shmona lead the table but that's not our lookout right now. We're looking ahead to the whole season and it's our aim to make history with a third straight title. We'll just have to see".
Finally Pako was asked if he was pleased with what he saw of the five Maccabi players during Israel's impressive 3-0 win against Bosnia: "Yes, the performance was great. They showed what they got and they were able to keep the level game in and game out, and the national team as well. I think it's something great for the country and to show that Israel can be known for something else than just the international news". And does a foreign coaching presence in domestic Israeli football help the national team? "I don't know. At least I try to help develop everywhere I go. Wherever I go I try to get something from the people I meet from the game I have been involved in. I have learned everywhere and I hope I can add something to the game here".
