Just one year ago, he lifted the State Cup and completed the historic Treble as Captain of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Today, the Vitesse Arnhem midfielder, Sheran Yeini can’t wait to watch the State Cup Final on Tuesday, 20:50 at Teddy Stadium when the Yellow & Blue take on Maccabi Haifa and can finish off the season by defending their title. In this exclusive interview Yeini talked about Maccabi’s season, Peter Bosz, last year’s Cup victory and saying goodbye to Bloomfield Stadium:
Starting anew:
“The season got off to a rough start as I was injured but then things began to get better and improve. We also weren’t thrilled where we were living and we moved to Utrecht which is only a half hour from Amsterdam which is incredible.”
The season in Holland:
“All in all I had a good time this year and played well. We didn’t reach our goals of making it to the playoffs as we drew 2:2 in the last match which was disappointing. But I had a new daughter and its one of the greatest things in the world.”
Following Maccabi this season:
“I watch every Maccabi match including the last one but I switched over when it was 3:0 to see what was going on in the Beer Sheva match. But when I saw Bnei Sakhnin was down 3:1 then I knew that it was over. I switched back and it was 6:0 Maccabi. I didn’t know what had happened.”
Summing up Maccabi’s season:
“Maccabi was in the Champions League and took over 80 points which is a tremendous amount and much more than we did last year. They also gave up less goals, but the players participated in many more matches than Beer Sheva. Last year we won the Treble and going into the next season could be tough mentally. You have to give credit to Beer Sheva they earned so many points.”
How would Maccabi fare in Holland:
“I think that Maccabi could be competitive in the upper half of the Dutch league table. The players are fast and very technical at the highest levels here, but there is something specific about Maccabi Tel Aviv that shows that they are really a team. Winners. Professionals. And the fact that they could make it through such a long season is something else. I believe that Maccabi has the right players to be able to compete here.”
Last year’s State Cup:
“Last year I was hurt and I didn’t playing the State Cup Final. But I played in 54 game that year. To see the fans and the players really excited going into the matches amazing. Maccabi really deserves this chance and no one can say thatchy didn’t do enough to win the title this year. The players gave it all.”
Preparing for the Final:
“The players know how to prepare properly for these types of matches and they get ready from game to game. They will have the best mental preparation and make sure they know how to take the bull by the horns. This could be the first time an Israeli club takes a title the same season they played in the Champions League. Maccabi could make history and they are good at that.”
Departing Bloomfield:
“It has the best pitch in Europe and the atmosphere the fans create is unbelievable. The sounds, the sights and it all. Remember when Moshiko Lugassi scored the late winner against Bnei Yehuda, that was one of the great moments at Bloomfield.”
