Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach looked back at his side’s 1:0 loss to Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 3 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoffs:

“You can try and find 100 excuses but it doesn’t change the feeling of the disappointment today. Even if they had ten men they were in the flow. They pushed and we got carried away with emotions when we wanted to play and attack the opponent. In the key moments we were not there. We had good chances to score and they didn’t have any better chances than we did but they took home the 3 points. They have the quality of winning when they aren’t playing their best and we are the opposite. We are just not good enough, not in terms of quality but maybe mentally strong enough when we have to be. The two times we were in first place we had to take it and we didn’t.”

Personality and character:
“A lot has to do with personality and character, which is something you can’t learn and teach. I hope that when Maccabi builds for next year they look at that quality.”

Ups and downs:
“Decision making is about making mistakes. I have regretted a lot of things and when I talk to the owner I give him my opinion. We have too many irregularities with to many ups and down.”

Objectives going forward:
“The players tried, they gave heart, passion and desire and sometimes when you put things together things don’t work. That’s football. When there are failures you have to make changes. At the bad times you can’t jump from the ship. You can never put your hands down and if you do then you shouldn’t be at Maccabi. We have to play good and strong the rest of the way. Those who jump mentally from the ship won’t be at Maccabi. The objective is to take the European spot.”

Barak Bachar and Hapoel Beer Sheva:
“I’m sure if we had a Bloomfield we wouldn’t be losing points like we have been but that’s no excuse. Barak Bachar is a good coach and he may win three championships in a row.”

Compliments:
“I don’t care about compliments and in football there are always cycles of up and downs. I’m just angry how we are performing and how we are disappointing. We haven’t done what we could have done and now we are paying for it.”

Omer Atzily:
“I like him no doubt about it and he’s important for the present and future. Rikan came in for help on the second line. Itzhaki played well against Netanya and Vidar is still the most clinical striker in the club. He will get his minutes in the upcoming games.”

Transfers and signings:
“Maccabi has invested in general more in the Israeli players than the foreigners. We had a lot of players who have come on free transfers. There is a lot of time to prepare and to do it quickly.”

Standing with the players:
“I go with the players to the end. When there are wrong decisions it goes to the decision maker. There are players who have been with me many years and they are giving more than 100% and I know they give everything but sometimes that is not enough.”