Maccabi Tel Aviv will face Villarreal on Matchday 6 of the Europa League Group Stages on Thursday night and will mark the end of the Yellow & Blue’s 2017/18 continental campaign. Head Coach Jordi Cruyff addressed the media ahead of the match:
“Everyone knows that the group has already been decided but we have a lot of motivation to play in Spain against a La Liga club. We are hoping to end the campaign on a high note. The players know that we had a disappointing competition but we want to turn it around this last game and of course gain confidence that we can use in the league.”
About the busy schedule:
“We’ve had a lot of matches recently, but when you decide to become a professional footballer that comes with the business. We want to put on a good performance and we have some players who are returning to action and want to play well. We are beginning a tough week and we have to freshen up and most importantly give a better impression than we have in our past European matches.
Looking ahead to Villarreal:
“They have played very positively and dynamically since the arrival of the new coach. They have had to deal with many injuries but we know that this is a club that always wants to win and control the play. They are a very respectable European club. Villarreal has many good young Spanish players and they will have a chance to impress their coach and convince him to give them more minutes, so I’m sure they will be motivated more than normal. They are very talented and capable and that’s what we have to expect.”
Central defender Jean-Sylvain Babin who spent a number of years in Spain also commented on the upcoming clash:
“It’s great to be back on Spain. I played here for many years and I’m very motivated. Our last few matches weren’t as good and we want to correct that. We have a lot of motivation to get a good result this campaign and we know that there are a lot of fans who will be here to support us. We want to record a good result for them.”
