We are at the start of the 2020/21 campaign but one of the most exciting occasions in the sporting calendar as far as the players and fans are concerned is just around the corner.
Maccabi will begin their Champions League qualifying campaign at home against Latvia champions FC Riga.
One of the players who knows how powerful matches in Europe are is Yuval Shpungin. A product of the Youth Department and continued with a long successful career in the senior side, reached one of his peaks in qualifying to the Champions League group stages of the 2015/16 season.
The veteran 33-year-old full-back who helped Hapoel Kfar Shalem last season win promotion to the second tier of Israeli football, is responsible for the assist which set up Eran Zahavi in the 2-0 victory away at Victoria Plzen in the 3rd qualifying round return leg. As someone who closely knows the roller-coaster ride which could be experienced by a team during a campaign – we held a special interview with him ahead of the opening match against FC Riga at Bloomfield.
“When you are there, you are really looking forward to it” Shpungin says. “One of the targets at Maccabi every season is to qualify to a European group phase. This is a target even before winning the league. This is the one which focuses you. In hindsight I could say that participating in European competitions is something you fondly remember as a player. During the process, you don’t have too much time to enjoy it, but nothing can match a long European campaign. This is where you can sense the real size and power of the club. You compete against players from abroad, you fly out to games and everything is draped with an amazing atmosphere. It is something else”.
How do you prepare for the early stages?
“I grew up at Maccabi and there were times we suffered an early knock out. There is an understanding you can’t under estimate any opponent. In such a tough competition and regardless how good you prepare and know your opponents – there is always the possibility of surprises and upsets. I am happy that during my second spell at Maccabi there were less upsets and more pleasant surprises. There is no room in Europe for complacency or arrogance. They are knockout competitions and if you look too far ahead you get punished and find yourself nursing a painful blow. Being alert is something you get used to right from the first qualifying round”.
On the change to the format from a two legged tie to a one-off match, Shpungin said: “In the earlier stages when you are favourite on paper, it could act against you because everything can happen. One should remain focused, be physically but mostly mentally prepared as the opponents you face have the same target as you. Just like we managed to beat FC Basel at the time, when you advance through, you will face tougher opponents which raises the stakes. There are always two sides to that coin. I hope Maccabi arrives fully focused to avoid any upsets and later on they might even benefit from that change of format”
Just like in the 2015/16 campaign when Slavisa Jokanovic was appointed as Maccabi’s head coach, this time round they have a new coach in Georgios Donis. How will that effect the side?
“You don’t have too long to adjust. Against Hibernians we struggled a little bit, but knew how to overcome. You buy yourself some extra time to adapt to the new coaching staff, the get to know the system and your teammates. Maccabi has very experienced players who have many European matches under their belts, as well as worked under many coaches, so they have the ability to adapt and learn very quickly. There shouldn’t be a problem there”.
The Champions League campaign which ended in the group stage began with a defeat to the Maltese champions. How can you reflect?
“Sometimes you need to receive a slap to the face in order to wake up. We understood very quickly that in these competitions you don’t get any discounts and every opponent could cause you problems. In the end it just made us stronger mentally. We also lost the first leg against Plzen at home. Just remember at what state did we arrive ahead of the return leg – with our back clearly pinged against the wall. At an away match against a side which doesn’t fall from us. We showed a lot of character during that campaign and in hindsight I can clearly say that we had several players who knew how to rise to the occasion at the right moments”.
Like that goal in Plzen?
“We knew we couldn’t afford to concede a goal and it was a very tight match. It was important not to make a difficult match even tougher. The longer we kept tight and close to them, and the match progressed, we suddenly scored and realized that one more goal could be enough. We remained patient as you need a lot of faith to know you are capable of pulling it off. As far as I am concerned, it is in my top three assists of my career. Maybe the most important one. The entire situation was surreal. It guaranteed us a place in a European group stage. It was one of the most exciting matches I ever played in. This is why I said that these competitions are so emotional and exciting. The adrenalin you experience at such games is something you don’t tend to experience elsewhere. That is the biggest fun”.
How do you see Maccabi’s European campaign?
“I can see the process Maccabi is undergoing in the past two seasons when the players are so committed and know exactly where they are. Even the young players are very mature as far as their character is concerned. There is a good blend between youngsters and veterans as the squad is balanced. They have the qualities and the ability to do well, all that is left for me is to keep my fingers crossed and support them from home. I am in touch with some of the Maccabi players and would be delighted for my former teammates as well as the club. I spent 20 years at Maccabi which is most of my life and that is not a joke. Besides believing in the club’s ability to succeed I would really wish for Maccabi to do so”.
How much are you enjoying to see all those youngsters do well?
“You will not find anyone happier than me. When I was promoted to the first team together with a few other young players, there was a change of concept at the club. There were many years that youngsters couldn’t find their place in the first team, maybe one here and there. I remember when I left I spoke with Ben Mansford and highlighted to him the importance of home grown players who come from within and were raised on Maccabi’s values. They already have the identity and it is not that I am saying that whoever comes from outside doesn’t have it, but to find players with such characters like Avi Rikan and Itay Schechter is not easy. Today Maccabi has an excellent generation of really talented young home grown players with strong characters and that is very unique. They are serious hard working and are simply assets to this club who put the team above every individual. I also know what good work is being done in the Youth Academy so the next batch of players is also just around the corner. This is the only way and it will only improve”.
