Maccabi midfielder Dan Einbinder is ready for the 7.30pm kick-off for tonight's State Cup quarter-final first leg tie against his ex, Ironi Kiryat Shmona: "We want to give it our best game"
Today the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad will make their way to the northernmost part of Israel to face title rivals Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the already once postponed first leg of their State Cup quarter final tie. One of the team members most familiar with the difficult pitch at the local municipal venue is midfielder Dan Einbinder, who spent one season with the hosts before trading in the blue-and-white of Kiryat Shmona for the yellow-and-blue of Maccabi. "Kiryat Shmona are very much a home side, love to face their opponents on their own turf," Einbinder relates. "They feel much more comfortable there. I think that wherever we play we're seen as favourites and we want to give it our best game, regardless of who our opponents are. Just get out there and win".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YnB3Thmt3I
This will be the third time Maccabi are facing their nearest title rivals, and Einbinder believes he and his team-mates have learned a great deal about their quality from the first two encounters: "I'm sure coach will have drawn his conclusions. We've learned a lot about Kiryat Shmona and about what we have to do to get a good result. We're also expecting better weather so the pitch should be easier too. That's good for us, we're a very technical side and a good pitch makes it easier to play our game".
This is the first time in a decade that Maccabi have reached the quarter-final stage of the State Cup competition and the objective is clear: To get a good result to take back home to Bloomfield Stadium for the decider in just a week's time. Einbinder: "Tonight we'll be focusing mainly on this match. We want to give the best performance we possibly can in order to get the best possible result. Our best result today is a win, at any venue, in any competition, at any match".
"The State Cup is important to us for sure, and to the fans," Einbinder admits. "That's why we're doing our best to be ready. It's a tough tie, Kiryat Shmona are a good side, but we'll be out there to win".
