Just before a cold and rainy final practice ahead of Kiryat Shmona, Yoav Ziv joined head coach Pako Ayestaran at the pre-match press conference and talked about the preparations and the healthy competition in the squad
A day ahead of Monday's play-off encounter at Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Maccabi Tel Aviv's veteran defender Yoav Ziv attended the traditional pre-match press conference together with head coach Pako Ayestaran. Ziv, who was selected for last week's win against Hapoel Beer Sheva, discussed the competition to be in the first eleven and the excitement of getting the nod: "Throughout my time here at Maccabi I've always had the support of the coaching staff. I've always played when I deserved to and I'm happy to have proved my worth each time. I'm happy for every chance I get, sometimes I feel the same excitement as a youth player who gets a call-up for the seniors, which in my case was quite a while ago".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbuohpR8NfQ
As for the competition for a place in the eleven, Ziv said: "We have a squad of twenty-four players who are all capable of making the eleven for any match. It's the competition in training that determines who plays, and it only makes us all better players. That's the bonus for the lads who don't play, the support and encouragement they get, and it keeps the dressing room a healthy place. It's only natural for a player to want to play, but the question is how you deal with the disappointment if you don't. With us it means you show up at the next practice with even more determination to prove you deserve that place, that's what healthy competition is all about".
As for the upcoming tie, Ziv added: "I don't foresee any surprises but if you mean tactical changes you'll have to ask the coach. Our job is to execute coach's instructions. Kiryat Shmona are a top-notch team and they need the points as much as we do. They have enough good players, even if one or two are missing".
