Avi Rikan, the Yellow & Blue midfielder addressed the assembled media following the 2:1 defeat to Hapoel Haifa:
Lessons to be learned:
“It’s not easy to keep up the same intensity the whole match. If we can’t attack them we wanted to control the ball and wait for the right time to go on the offensive. Even after Haifa drew even we had to make sure that we wouldn’t lose because we are all playing each other in the Championship Playoffs. We have to learn from this and hopefully we will be able to say later on that it’s good this happened now and not later.”
The desire to win:
“There’s always pressure and we understand that. Up until their goal they didn’t really cause us problems and the match was under our control. We had to know how to keep the result as is when it was even. We wanted to win the match and we felt really good in the first half but when you can’t convert your chances then we ended up giving up a goal, but we shouldn’t have lost.”
Intensity and pressure:
“As the minutes went by we felt the intensity and pressure from the game and we had to control that and at worst case control the ball and wait for the right time to attack. They waited from behind and then took advantage of the situation.”
Owner Mitch Goldhar in attendance:
“Of course we wanted to win especially as he was in attendance and it’s always great to see him. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t win. He follows us the whole season and watches every match and we have to make sure we win our next matches.”
About keeper Predrag Rajikovic:
“Rajiko’s had many great matches this season and we can’t forget that. I don’t know what happened but Rajiko is a very emotional person who always wants to win and we feel that every day. He’s a great keeper and he will reach the highest levels. I’m sure he will earn points for us during the playoffs.”
Plenty of points left:
“You have no idea of how hurt we all are and we really want to succeed. We see how the fans all came to support us as they have done match after match, more and more and it’s been great for us. Unfortunately the exact opposite occurred today and it’s very painful for the players, we feel terrible. No one likes to lose. We all support one another and while we succeed together we have to also know how to collect ourselves after a loss. At the end of the day it’s not the end of the world. We had an issue here and of course we didn’t want to lose. When you don’t win, another team at the top takes the points, but the playoffs are long and there are plenty of points left.”
