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The atmosphere on the street, the preparations, the smell in the air. It’s all the pregame show before what we all call, “The Derby”. You probably all know the feeling, and we the players certainly feel it as well.
I remember my first Derby when I was with the First Team. It was a Toto Cup Derby in 2011/12. There were a few of us, young Maccabi players who has been promoted from the Youth Team. Sure, it was “only” the Toto Derby, but the stadium was packed, the fans and the atmosphere for the first Derby of the season turned the evening into a very special one for me. Early on in the 6th minute I assisted on an Uri Cohen goal. We went on to take a 2:0 lead, but Hapoel was able to come back and the match ended in a 2:2 draw.
Every Derby is an important Derby. It sounds like a cliche but it’s really not. We aren’t used to being in second place, especially as to where we have been on the table over the last few years. This match is not like just any other regular game and we can’t afford to lose points in the battle for first place.
Over the last few years, everyone has gotten the idea that we are the better team even before the opening whistle is blown. Still, we’ve won ten Derbies since the 4:0 victory that everyone remembers back in 2012/13. But do we now think that we are the favorites? I don’t think so. We as players get ready for each match exactly the same way. We go through the same preparations and we don’t get caught up in all of the atmosphere that might effect us. Our objective is to come into t
he match focussed, ready and prepared. No one is a favorite in this type of match.
But don’t make a mistake, we aren’t robots and we certainly aren’t cut off from the atmosphere that surrounds us. Frankly, I’ve already been tuned into the Derby for the past week. Everything around this match is different from any other game, especially when we know how important this game is for all of you.
Your support is very important to us, especially now when we are going head to head against Beer Sheva, it will really help us a lot. This season, Beer Sheva’s success rate has been excellent and any point that we lose may be decisive at the end of the year. We were very disappointed after drawing at Teddy and dropping a couple of points. We have no intention of losing any points in the Derby match. Especially when we know that you have our backs.
I think that’s enough talking. It’s Derby Time! Yalla Maccabi!
