Maccabi Tel Aviv will kick off against Dundalk, the Ireland Champion on Thursday at 22:00. The Yellow & Blue landed in Dublin last night and will play at the Tallaght Stadium the home of Shamrock Rovers that holds 6,000 spectators.
Shota Arveladze began the press conference and said: “Our first match was against Zenit and it began well but had a tragic ending. The game against Dundalk is important and perhaps critical because after this contest we have an away encounter in Holland. At the end of the day we want to show how good we are and what the result will be.”
Tomorrow’s Starting XI:
“We will play our best team and if we make changes its just because of that. Football is not to be for rests but for winning and taking home titles and trophies. We had some tough weeks but they have passed by. This will be our last game before a short break. I’m happy that other than Dasa who is ineligible and Rikan who is injured, everyone is available.”
About the opponent:
“We’ve followed Dundalk and watched their European matches. We have seen what type of game they play as they like to move the ball around and they have a striker David McMillian that scores a lot of goals. Their winger is also excellent but I also have a good feeling about tomorrow. Truthfully, Dundalk surprised me as British football is built on long balls and in general the 4-4-2 and I saw that this is not necessarily the case in the games that I watched. They played consistently in each match as they wanted to hold into the ball. I don’t know what the league philosophy but I do know that Dundalk is a very dominant team here.”
About Arveladze’s last trip to Ireland with Georgia:
“I remember that match and I had to spend four days in the hospital here, I took a lot of painkillers and it almost cost me my health. I stayed here for an additional four days so the medical team could do the best job possible. I remember that because I was from Rangers they booed a lot and it was always fun to hear.”
Captain Gal Alberman was asked about Eran Zahavi’s departure: “We knew that when Zahavi left that we would have to change some things and I believe that we are improving from match to match. At first it was strange to be on the pitch without him and he was a huge part of the history of Maccabi, but for now that is what it is, part of history. We are focussing on our play and the goals that we have set for ourselves. We really aren’t dealing with this issue anymore.”
Comparing the Maccabi of today to the years past:
“We started a process in 2011 when Jordi came and he tried to change the philosophy, one that I can attest to seeing this change as I had been with the club for three years prior to his arrival. Since then we have been on the same path each and every season. A team that controls the ball and wins.”
