Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Itay Shechter, who scored the first goal in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Hapoel Kfar Sava was in good spirits after the victory at Bloomfield and he talked to reporters about the wake-up call in the State Cup defeat to Hapoel Umm El Fahm and what to expect for the next game against Maccabi Haifa on January 6.
“We played well against Bnei Yehuda (in the 3-0 win mid-week). We weren’t spectacular but we did well.”
“For me, as a striker, to score gives me confidence after a period in which I alternated between the bench and the pitch. We are very happy with this win. We can celebrate now for a day or two after beating Kfar Sava but then it will be back to the hard grind.”
“The loss to Umm El Fahm stunned us a little and I think that there are times in football when you need to be punished in order to be spurred into greater action. It’s has happened to bigger clubs than Maccabi Tel Aviv and we weren’t expecting it, but a club like Maccabi is big enough to get over such things and we look ahead now to more success.”
“Umm El Fahm may be from a lower league but they have good players and I don’t underestimate them. Sometimes you don’t expect surprises and it’s hard to explain when they occur but such things have happened in far bigger leagues like in England, Germany and Spain.”
Shechter said good preparation and humility would be needed for next Monday’s clash with second-placed Maccabi Haifa at Sami Ofer Stadium. Haifa are just three points behind Maccabi in the TASE Premier League standings and the result will be crucial in the title race.
“Before a ‘match of the season’ you have to come prepared but we will have to be humble too. We can review how we did talk after the game. We must do our bit and the media can criticise afterwards.”
The striker said that the IFA Disciplinary Court to punish the vast majority of Maccabi supporters for the actions of a few unruly culprits who were caught after their actions during the Tel Aviv Derby was unjust.
“I hope the decision to punish Maccabi fans for the few who misbehaved during the Derby can be changed and I hope it will be. Those who were to blame were caught and there is no sense in punishing other decent and law-abiding fans. Bloomfield is a fortress for us with the help of the support of our loyal fans.”
