Itzhaki whose side came back from an early goal said: “To concede an early goal is far from pleasant, but when I look at the game, it was a one sided match. On the one hand I am satisfied because I think we played well, but on the other hand I am disappointed because we didn’t win. When you play so well it is important to win but we didn’t do so which is a pity. A derby is a derby and the cliche says that it has its’ own rules. After many years Hapoel reached the derby above us in the table, I think they are playing good football, but we cancelled them in every part of the pitch” he added, “We dominated the game, Ernstas Setkus gave a man of the match performance and deserves the credit for it. If not for him, the result would have been totally different and we would be sitting here talking a little different”.
When asked what he told the players at halftime, Itzhaki added: “We went into the dressing room at halftime as I told my players in the dressing room: ‘I don;t have too much to tell you as you are playing well. We conceded that goal and if we will keep on playing this way we will score and also win the match’. At the end of the day we didn’t score the second goal but in comparison to previous matches there are plenty of good things to take out of this match”.
On the team’s form, Itzhaki said: “I said earlier that we didn’t start the season well, which is a fact. We did have good results in Europe which I am happy about, but we didn’t have a good start to the season. Some of the players’ didn’t have the best start to the season but we all remember that these are the same players who pulled an amazing comeback and had an amazing season. Last season they were good and I believe it will repeat itself. It is all a matter of confidence and hard work – it will repeat itself. Players don;t forget how to play football”.
When asked about the team’s defence that conceded the largest number of goals in the league (15), Itzhaki replied: “there is no doubt that this is the first thing we must improve”.
On the ongoing search for a new coach, Itzhaki answered: “We are not bringing a coach who knows only to defend. When one selects a coach you have to look at every aspect and I am certain that we will sit together on the matches we played up until now and improve several things. I think there are many good things to take from today’s game, I am very optimistic about the team – we had a very good game today”.
When asked if Maccabi didn’t speak with a potential replacement before the departure of the previous coach, Itzhaki explained: “I can’t recall in the past that the owner of Maccabi Tel Aviv ever spoke to other coaches while there was one still in charge. As soon as the coach was dismissed names were mentioned and we began playing. We are still waiting for the right coach”.
On the goals Maccabi still has this season, Itzhaki remained adamant: “We showed last season that we were capable to bounce back despite a poor start. It is not going to be easy, but I don’t want to look too far ahead, I want to just look at one step at a time, from game to game and start collecting points. In the current situation we are in it wouldn’t be right to look too far ahead”.
