Midfielder Avi Rikan spoke to reporters after the goalless draw with Bnei Yehuda in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first game back at the new Bloomfield stadium as hosts, he said the team would have to work harder in order to re-create last season’s excellent showing, but has no doubt that things will get back on track.
“Of course, the game changed after we went a man down but I think, still, we could have shown a bit more quality. It’s only natural that when you lose a player, you become more defensive as there were necessary changes (in the lineup).
“We really wanted to open our season at the new Bloomfield with a win, we only got a point but we’ll take the good things from this game and will carry on our quest.
“We didn’t start well, we know we need to look better than we did and I’m certain that it will happen as we progress. Sometimes this is a result of not yet being match fit combined with a few injury niggles, but I’m certain that with time we will gel.
“We have a short break now (during the national team’s matches) and I hope it will allow us to regroup and perhaps some injured players will return.
“Last season we began a little apprehensively but with time things fell into place and we were great. This time, there is an expectation for things to get off to a flying start, but it takes time but this is a different season, with different challenges. The players will have to work much harder this season to recreate the success from last year.
“It’s great to see Bloomfield swathed in yellow, unfortunately we sent the fans home with only a point but I’m sure that during the season we will make them happy in this stunning stadium.”
