Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach addressed the media at the post match press conference after his squad defeated Bnei Yehuda 2:0 on Matchday 7 of the Israel Premier League at the Netanya Stadium:
“We played two steps backwards but 3 steps forward as we picked up 3 points. The last two league games we did play well but we only took 1 point. We would prefer to play good with energy but also take the win and the points. Bnei Yehuda is always a difficult opponent with difficult transitions. We wanted to be organized on defense and we had difficulties to create. All in all it was one of those games that you want to win and move on.”
The players:
“We don’t think about the first XI. We had a bunch of players who could play but we put pressure on some players that we wouldn’t normally have, for example Eliran Atar played two games with the national team one more offensive and one more defensive. We would have liked to have killed off the game but we needed to make a substitute.”
Game play:
“We tried to penetrate through the left side and we had Rikan play left back which is not easy to have a player to change positions to play. In the end we won 2:0 and the defense was solid, but we didn’t create enough chances.”
Dor Peretz’s performance:
“We asked him to sacrifice and hold the position and I thanked him after the game. He’s a young player and he had a tough job today. He may have lost a few balls like everyone else, but I’m happy as both he and Yeini helped pick up the clean sheet and stop the other team’s attack.”
Astana or Beer Sheva, what’s more important:
“The first one is most important. If you’d ask the fans you would hear that they would want to win the league but we have to look at the next game first and then Beer Sheva afterwards.”
Kazakhstan versus Israeli football:
“Kazakhstan has more money then any Israeli club. We saw that in Kairat and we see that at Astana which is a team with a good coach. It’s not a coincidence that they have done well in Europe, there is much more financial power in Kazakhstan than in Israel.”
Maccabi youth players impact:
“We had some players train with us in the preseason. Some are with us now due to injuries.”
