Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Hapoel Hadera at 18:00 on Saturday at Bloomfield in the sixth round of the TASE Premier League and midfielder Dor Peretz spoke about the challenge that lies ahead.
“We had waited for a game like the win over Beitar that would pull things together for us and would give us the momentum we have needed. Now is the time to push on and show what we can do,” Peretz said at the pre-match news conference.
“After losing (to Beitar) four days previously in the Toto Cup final, we managed to do the best thing possible and to put the defeat behind us and we are so happy that our fighting spirit and will to win brought us a decisive win that shows we are improving.”
“We look forward to the game against Hadera and are preparing as we do for every game. Hadera are formidable opponents and this is reflected in their position in the standings. We respect them but we are looking at ourselves first and foremost.”
Peretz said it was great to be able to include young players in the main squad.
“It’s always lots of fun that youngsters can be included in the team. They receive all our support as they progress and advance to become fully fledged senior team players and this is important for the club and it shows that we have a new crop of players coming up. I hope that Eilon Almog will also advance, because he’s fitting in well.”
Peretz said that talk in the off-season of him possibly moving on had passed and he was pleased that he could now concentrate on his play.
“I’m happy that it is behind us and that I am here, this is my place,” he said.
