Maccabi have completed the first round of Israeli Premier League encounters and are now preparing for round 2. Pako: "I have to use the depth of the squad"
The first round of the 2014/15 Israeli Premier League season is now over and finds Maccabi Tel Aviv in second place, two points behind league leaders Ironi Kiryat Shmona. After the team's 1-3 win at Hapoel Petach Tikva, head coach Pako Ayestaran first responded to a question about the team conceding another early goal: "We know we have players good enough in the back four, the situation was not dangerous at all. It was an easy ball over our defenders, just running back and being in opposition should be enough not to have any problems but not concentrating at the beginning and no focus and this ball over the defenders was a chance". Replying to a remark that it might have been the goalkeeper Juan Pablo's error, the coach said: "No, the question at the end is when you concede there are many mistakes, starting from the first one, the second one and maybe they could have done more. You know he has the finger that hasn't enough power and he didn't feel comfortable. That's probably one of the points why he was not at his best in goal. But everybody can make mistakes and not be at his best. You know my opinion of Juan Pablo, he is a great goalkeeper".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwMwz-9NMxg&list=UU-oWQqnf8B8a_TsmVi0mTUg
After the 1-1 draw against Beitar Jerusalem, the Spaniard made five changes to his line-up: "I've got many players who can perform and I have to use the depth of the squad for two reasons: One of my targets is to be able to make three, four, five changes and still perform and second to arrive to March, April with many players in good shape is also important. You don't know in March and April who is going to be injured and who is going to be making bad performances. So you need the ones in March, April with enough games and minutes in their bodies".
After remarking himself after Beitar that the team perhaps needed more goals from the middle, Pako was asked if he was pleased with holding midfielder Mahran Radi's strike: "Yes, we needed that. We are the ones who follow the stats a lot and the talk between games is that we should be playing better and in the games we should be scoring more goals after two or three games that we were not playing good enough and scoring little. The difference was in the last third, we were not taking enough risks. Today I think they were trying to penetrate more places and to get balls over the defenders and that was the difference because we had more players close to the box. We know Mahran Radi has great power to shoot the ball from a great distance and today we used it. I want to take the video and keep it for the future".
Once again the coach was asked why striker Eden Ben Basat sat on the bench: "You know I really appreciate Ben Basat but I have to choose. Maybe he will play next Wednesday ". Was it because he didn't play well against Beitar? "No, I don't make changes because of the last game but I have to choose the best eleven. The same as Mahran Radi, he didn't play in the last three games and today he played. It doesn't mean I don't believe in Mahran Radi or Ben Basat, I really believe in them but I have to choose". But aren't you afraid you might lose players that way? "Along the way sometimes you lose players. You have to continue, there is no other way. In football the competition is so hard. Maybe I'm wrong but it's my mistake".
Finally, Pako was asked if he thought that the upcoming "Toto" (League) Cup semi-final was important: "Of course, it's one title. It's the only one I can win now. In this case I'd like to win and go to the final".
Dan Einbinder, who last night made his first league appearance after a lengthy injury, was keen to first express his gratitude to the medical staff: "First and foremost I want to thank the Maccabi Tel Aviv medical staff, they are so brilliant and dedicated to looking after us in the best possible way. They helped me a lot and I just want to say thanks to all of them".
As for his first league appearance, the midfielder said: "I was a bit nervous at first, but it was great to get out there again and I hope I'll carry on that way. It wasn't easy for me, getting injured just at a time when the coaching staff changed and of course it's easier for the new coach to get an impression of the players available. I hope he'll have the patience to give me my opportunity because I want to show him that I belong on the pitch so that's what I'll be trying to do". And where does he feel most comfortable playing? "I can play anywhere in the midfield, wherever I'm required, and I'll do my level best. Tonight I played a little further forward, other times I may be further back. What's most important is that we won and took three valuable points".
Einbinder gave his take on the criticism following the 1-1 draw with Beitar: "We're champions two years running and everyone's expectations are sky high, but that goes for the criticism as well. That's okay of course and we'll deal with it. You can be happy with how things are and still feel there's room for improvement. Tonight we moved up to second place but our goal is the top spot". And what is his opinion of the leaders, his ex, Ironi Kiryat Shmona? "At Kiryat Shmona their best bet is not to feel under pressure. They may be surprised themselves to be on top at the moment but the truth is they're doing a really good job of it. But we have to focus on ourselves and be better than they are".
Finally, and how could it be otherwise, Dan Einbinder added a word about his team-mate Eran Zahavi: "Zahavi deserves all the praise being heaped on him, he's right up there at every practice and gives every last ounce for the team. We're his greatest fans, encourage him every way possible. Maccabi have a lot of good players but there's no doubt that Eran is out in front and we all want it to stay that way".
