Maccabi have completed their final practice ahead of tomorrow's home tie against title rivals Kiryat Shmona. Pako: "After that game, we still will have to play another fourteen"
Maccabi Tel Aviv are completing their preparations for tomorrow night's 8.55pm league encounter against title rivals Ironi Kiryat Shmona at Bloomfield Stadium with a final practice at Kiryat Shalom training ground. Beforehand the club held their traditional press conference, attended by head coach Pako Ayestaran and striker Eden Ben Basat. Pako was first asked what the influence might be of the postponement of last Wednesday's Cup tie against the same opponents: "All is positive. Whatever happens is for the better". And did he regard tomorrow's encounter as the "game of the season"? "Not really. Still you can win this game but if you don't continue with the same pace it's not worth it. In this case it's one more game, an important game, because it's this type of six-point game, but that's all. From now on, after that game, we still will have to play another fourteen". And would he make any changes in the team? "No. As you know, I am not a coach that makes so many changes from one game to another. Especially because any of the players that we've got in the squad can play. In this case we will try to keep the spine of the team and after try to realise which of the players are in the better mental state to approach this game. I will continue playing with the shape I think is best in each game". And did he feel Maccabi's chances were better playing at home? "Of course, not just because it's a home game and they can always feel the breath of their supporters. It's as well because the pitch helps us a lot".
When the subject turned to Maccabi's last league encounter, the 3-3 draw against Maccabi Netanya, the coach was first asked if he had spoken to the players about the mistakes his team made during the match: "Not all the mistakes, because to be honest the one that made me so upset was especially the last one. Being so difficult to return the result back, I was quite upset to concede in quite an easy way. And especially because in the way they finished the attack, allowed us to defend a second chance, because at the beginning they couldn't score, one against the goalkeeper. We had a second chance to defend against that attack and we were not able to do so because we didn't drop back quickly enough. And that was what upset me because it was something that we could avoid". And why, one reporter wondered, was star midfielder Eran Zahavi left on the bench for the first hour of the match: "As important as Eran Zahavi is for Maccabi, Maccabi is important for Eran Zahavi. And sometimes the benefit for the club is more important than the benefit for one player. And sometimes some of the decisions are a benefit in the future. Maybe being available in April, because I think this year he has not been injured at all and last year he had an injury for example, and there are stats that show you when a player plays more than certain minutes for weeks he's at risk. In this case sometimes we have to avoid risks as well".
The Maccabi coach also had some glowing remarks about his co-attendee at the press conference, Eden Ben Basat: "I am really pleased with him, the same as with the rest of the players, and depending on the game sometimes he will play and sometimes not. But I was looking at the stats a couple of days ago and he has improved a lot in the stats because until I came he played seven games, seven games before I arrived, and he scored just one goal. Seven games as a starter. And I think with us he has started ten games and he has scored seven. In this case I think it's not a bad start, and I will sign if he continues doing the same from now until the end of the season, even if he doesn't play every game in the starting eleven". It was remarked that if he played more he would score more: "He would have more chances of course. The more they play, the more chances they have to score, to show their qualities. But as I always said, Maccabi are a club that have quality all around the squad and sometimes quality has to be on the bench".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoKx7-9QthQ
Eden Ben Basat also had a word to say about his position in the team's first eleven: "For an attacker obviously, statistics are important but more important is that the team win, because that only helps me more. I'm still working hard and hope to carry on that way. At Maccabi there are a lot of players fighting for a few positions on the eleven and the competition is good for all of us. Maccabi are a big outfit, everyone wants to be on the squad and that's good for the club".
As for tomorrow night's encounter with Kiryat Shmona the striker said: "We're on top of the league and they're right behind us. It's an important match but the title won't be decided tomorrow. The coach explains to us what he wants and it's up to us to do it. I want to play, it's important to me, but there are a lot of players here who want a chance. I may have played in France, but I have to fit in here because this is an ongoing enterprise for a club trying to maintain the title. It was my decision to join, a decision from the heart, and I'm very happy here. You always have ups and downs but you have to adjust and I'm happy I did".
Regarding the coach's professional decisions, Ben Basat exclaimed: "The coach has his own way of looking at things and I respect that and try to improve. There's no hierarchy among us, we have a great training staff who are close to the players and they form the core of the team. There are no egos and that's what keeps the team going. A team in the title race have a different way of working and you have to adjust to it. But over time you change your perspective and with the help of the coaching staff you can become a better player. I take the positives from wherever I play. Maccabi is like playing in Europe in all respects, it's the best option, the biggest club in Israel and I haven't regretted my move from France for a single moment".
