A disappointed Shahar Piven answered questions about Maccabi’s 2-1 defeat and said that while the team is disappointed in its performance and the result, lessons will be learned and Maccabi must improve for the return leg in Lithuania next Thursday.
Shahar Piven: “It’s difficult to argue with the facts and I agree that we looked very poor. It’s almost certainly our worst European game this season and as far as I recall, last season too. This match has passed, we must look ahead as sportsmen and as footballers who have endured tough situations.”
“We must look ahead analyse what happened in words and on screen and move forward, we must not dwell on the past.”
Q: The coach spoke about a lack of hunger among the players and poor discipline, particularly after the first goal, this is not the Maccabi we expect to see. Do you feel the players are not eager enough?
A: I can’t argue with what the coach said. If he said this, then he knows what he is talking about and perhaps we did have less hunger. I felt we all tried our best during the game but something didn’t work as it should. We lost the ball far too much and when you concede goals from set pieces, you have to pick yourself up because in European play, these are always very dangerous situations and they often determine the outcome. We probably won’t advance if we don’t improve our play but I do have faith that we can overcome this because we are a better team than Suduva. In the same way that they scored two goals here, I am certain that we can also score two goals in Lithuania but most important will be not to concede any more goals.”
Q: Four out of the last five goals you conceded came from set plays, the coach has also said that you have been training for this, so as a defender, what is the problem?
A: We are working on this all the time and view video footage, he explains things to us and we train for it, but perhaps it’s a matter of poor luck. Opposing players got the ball and managed to score. This didn’t happen last season. We are measured when things aren’t going well. Last season we were happy and things were going well but now, the leaders among us will have to guide us forward to boost our morale and go confidently into the next game.”
Q: Why do things look different in training compared to play?
A: We have only just begun our training, we had two very tough training camps but our opponents are already in mid-season and they are in top form but this is not an excuse. We do try our hardest in training and on the pitch and although we are not playing well, we must do our best to win, otherwise our European season will be over sooner than expected.
Q: The crowd was not happy today and they even booed, not something we have seen for a long time, what do you think of their expectations of you?
A: Maccabi’s crowd are great, they always expect us to win trophies and succeed in Europe, whether the Europa League or the Champions League. I can’t fault them for their expectations, they support us also in tough times and they give us strength. It is us, the team, who must deliver to make them happy and we must improve.
Q: What do you think of your coordination with your new goalkeeper?
A: I don’t think the fact that we have conceded four goals is a true reflection of our situation, not only the defensive unit, but the entire team are not at their best. Last season our defence was the strong part of our team but at the moment that’s not the case. You can’t win any games if you concede goals so easily. It all begins and ends with the defenders. I don’t have any complaints for anybody, our new goalkeeper is excellent and the four defenders have been trying their best but it’s up to the entire team to work to prevent goals going in at our end and we must learn from our mistakes.”
