Lito Vidigal, the Maccabi Tel Aviv boss addressed the media before the Club’s Matchday 26 clash against Hapoel Haifa. The match will end the regular season as the Yellow & Blue will head into the Championship Playoffs the following week. The Angolan discussed the importance of the fans, the squad and if he watched Barcelona and PSG last night:
“I didn’t see the game because I was working at home watching Hapoel Haifa matches and trying to find a way to win the game. I don’t have time for anything else.”
Injured players:
“Some are working with the physiotherapists to come back as soon as possible.”
Playing without winger Tal Ben Chaim:
“I’ve said from the first day that most importantly is the team. If they work and give everything to the team them we have more options to use more players. If we don’t have one player, then we have others. The team is always most important.”
His time so far at Maccabi:
“The players are working well and have been playing good as well. We have five wins in a row for the first time and I want to continue this and keep the play going well.”
Closing the 3-point gap:
“We are focused on the next game. One game isn’t more important than the other. We are only focusing on the next game and the next opponent. That is the goal.”
The end of the Hapoel Ashkelon match:
“Of course I wasn’t happy. We had control of the game and we lost control during the last five minutes. We have to be focused for the full 90 minutes.”
Tal Ben Haim not being selected for the Israel National Team:
“I’ve coached National Teams before and it’s very important. However, I’m just the coach of Maccabi and I’m not the coach of Israel. Tal plays very well and helps the team.”
Happy that Ben Haim is at Maccabi:
“For me it’s ok that he’s here because I’ve played him in all of the games.”
Changing lineups due to four players at risk of yellow card accumulation and missing the Beer Sheva match:
“The most important thing is the next game. If they show me at practice that they deserve to play them they will play.”
Sheran Yeini playing as a defensive midfielder last match:
“I hadn’t made any changes since I arrived but now that there were a number of games, I decided to make a change. The players are all focused on fighting and working to win the next game. The players are working well and they are all important. I believe in all of the players.”
Importance of the fans:
“We need the fans at the stadium, packed. We need their support especially because of the effort the players are giving on the pitch.”
