Shota Arveladze, the Yellow & Blue boss took a look back after his team defeated Croatia’s Hajduk Split 2:1 at home in Europa League Playoff Round action. Next week Maccabi will visit Split for the second leg and the Georgian coach knows about the challenges ahead as he first reviewed what he saw on the Netanya pitch this evening by not hiding his disappointment:
“I feel bad if course, especially when we could have done better. We could have had the ball longer sometimes and not pass under pressure. The first five or six balls we gave it away when they pressed. It took us some time to find the free man as quickly as we wanted. They are a good team with talent and quality. It may be disappointing but we have two games, this was just the first.”
On Tal Ben Chaim missing the next game due to yellow card accumulation:
“Someone will be missing and someone will take his place. We know his quality and we know how good he is, but we won’t cry about it and we have enough players to play.”
Visiting Split next week:
“This is something that is coming up. With this team we haven’t actually played an away game, Kairat was good but this away game will have an atmosphere that will be special when you like football.”
Killing the game and playing the full 90 minutes:
“European games are a bit different. We won the game and scored two goals. Maybe we won’t disappear for a period of time like we do most games and that’s for all of us. 5 or 10 minutes each match but we may have to work on this so we can play a full 90 minutes.”
Orlando Sa not being in the squad and Oscar Scarione playing as a center forward:
“This was the only game that he didn’t play and I said we could try to play a bit differently with Scarione.”
On the right back position:
“I don’t want to look at one game and I see them in practice. Dor Peretz has four or five assists already. We know Dasa is coming back from an injury and it’s not Peretz’s best position but we will work on it.”
Potential transfers:
“We have until September to make a transfer and we are looking for the right player profile to fill the need. I am looking at two positions”
