The Yellow-and-Blue are getting ready for their WINNER League Matchday 15 showdown with Hapoel Beer Sheva at Bloomfield Stadium, Monday night at 20:55. The two sides are neck and neck toed for frosty place on points with Maccabi ahead on goal differential. Head Coach Slavisa Jokanovic spoke to the assembled media prior to the team’s final training session:
“Tomorrow’s game is worth only three points and we have another 66 to go. It’s an important game for our supporters and one of the biggest games in Israel, but it’s not the last game of the season. We will try to win but there is a long season to go.”
About Beer Sheva:
“They are a quality team and I believe in my team, I believe in my players and I’m sure we will do a good job and our goal is to win the game. It’s an important game for both teams and we have some plans as to how we are going to start the game and how to finish the game especially with our bench. There are a lot of small details and we have to be careful from their set pieces where they are very dangerous.”
Comparing Maccabi and Beer Sheva:
“People are saying that they are playing the best football in Israel and this is chance for them to show this quality against us at Bloomfield. This is all part of football. Again this is one game for just three points and that’s it. After the match we will continue on.”
Preparing for Beer Sheva:
“I have checked out Beer Sheva as this is the team that we are playing next. They have the same points as us so they are probably at the same level as us. They play very good football and this is a very important game for us.”
There are quality players on Maccabi other than Eran Zahavi:
“I’m not the Beer Sheva coach by I am in charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv so I will see what my players can do and make sure that they are focussed and balanced. Both sides will arrive with 11 players and some of my players have been on the Israel National Team. They have a lot of quality and there are other quality players besides Eran Zahavi. I will have a quality player on my bench in case I need him to make an impact on the game.”
Personal and team qualities going forward:
“I don’t think that’s I’ve showed all of my qualities yet. The teams in Europe showed that we have a lot of potential and there is place for us to improve. If we are content right now that we think that we are at the highest level then we are wrong. We can be more motivated, play better football and continue to strive to improve.”
Striker Dejan Radonjic has returned to the squad:
“This player has certain qualities that other players on the club don’t have. I will have to see how I will use him in this match and he can be a game changer.”
