Midfielder Nikola Mitrovic, who scored Maccabi's winning goal against Ashdod, is keeping things in proportion: "It was a nice goal, but for me the most important thing is that we took the three points"
This morning the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad assembled for a post-match training before enjoying a day off on Monday ahead of their State Cup tie against Hapoel Ashkelon on Tuesday. On Saturday night the team were aware of the club's four-and-a-half year run without a win at Ashdod's "Hayud Alef" Stadium, but that's not what was foremost on their minds: "Past is past", explained Maccabi head coach Pako Ayestaran after the 0-1 victory, "and I said it to the players. Even during the week someone at the club told me how difficult it was here, how they didn't win for many years, and I said that I don't believe in premonition. The future depends on what we do in the present. We had an opportunity to act on the future and this is what the players have done. They came on with the right mentality, really focused, really determined, knowing that it was going to be a difficult game and they took the three points". Asked if he had spoken with midfielder Eran Zahavi and winger Tal Ben Chaim about their impending suspension if they got cautioned during the match, the head coach responded: "No, nothing at all, because it was a game that was really important for us to win, on a difficult pitch, and they know we have a risk of losing a player but we have a squad that's good enough to sort any problem or any miss of any player".
At Maccabi there is great satisfaction with the fact that since the start of the second round of Israeli Premier League ties the team have not shipped a single goal, stretching to 624 minutes their match time without conceding to the opposition, a new club record. Pako attempted to explain the change: "At the beginning of the season you remember we were talking about the weakness of our defensive line. No, I really believed it was the team as a team. And now the team is, not even better, we are with the lines close together and we are pressing a little bit better and everybody is more conscious about the importance of not conceding". Reminded that he had previously stated he preferred to win by a score of 5-2 rather than 1-0, the Spaniard replied: "And I still do. But at this moment we are not able to score so many goals. When you are not able to score so many goals you have at least not to concede. But they have shown that this run will change and we'll find the way of getting more goals".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOI5jwA3too&feature=youtu.be
The coach was also asked if he was aware that the head coach of Maccabi's imminent State Cup rival Hapoel Ashkelon had come to Ashdod to observe the match: "The same as that yesterday we were watching them play in Ashkelon. We really know that they are a good team. They really put Beitar (Jerusalem) under high difficulties and at the end they won the game. They're a good team and we have to be sure we are humble enough and respectful enough to realise that if we are not in the right mental state and we are not at the top of our game, maybe we can (lose). They are a good team and as you know there are a few players who have played in the first division, players with experience. They are doing quite well in the third division, they are top of the league and from what we have seen they are better than some second division teams. In this case it wouldn't be the first time you are knocked out by a lower division team".
Nikola Mitrovic scored last night's winning goal, one that is likely to be remembered as one of goals of the season. Talking to the Maccabi Tel Aviv website crew after the match, the midfielder had this to say: "It was a nice goal, but for me the most important thing is that we won the game and took the three points, especially on a difficult field where we haven't won in four and a half years. Last year we drew one game and we lost in the Cup so I think that for the team it's a very important three points". Asked why he felt Ashdod's stadium presented such a challenge, the Serb replied: "I think that the pitch is a little bit smaller. And today you know we didn't have the support of the fans. But we played a very good game. I think we played well today".
Midfielder Dan Einbinder, whose long injury kept him on the sidelines for the first half of the season, has now completed three consecutive matches as part of the starting eleven and is showing every sign of returning to form: "I was injured for a long time, and since returning to the squad all I've been looking for is the confidence of the coach. Right now things are looking good, I'm trying to repay his faith on the pitch and I hope it will carry on that way. We were all aware before the match of the long drought in Ashdod and we knew it wouldn't be easy, especially after having been knocked out of the State Cup there last year. So I'm glad we turned that around and got an important win in the bargain".
