Sheran Yeini is in his 19th season at Maccabi Tel Aviv as the 36-year-old defender admits that a local derby is always exciting and emotional. On Tuesday, arch city rivals Hapoel hosts Maccabi at Bloomfield for the first Tel Aviv derby of the 2023/24 season. Yeini, who played in numerous derbies in his long career, reflected on the preparations for such a game: “A derby is the easiest match to prepare for in terms of motivation. There is plenty of tactical work to prepare for. Hapoel had a good start to the campaign as they are an organized side which had good results so far. We must do the right preparations, arrive for this match tactically ready, focused and try dominate the game to complete our job.”
With the derby taking place a day after Yom Kippur, Yeini admitted that this is something he had experienced in the past: “It will certainly be challenging for both teams as the game is right after Yom Kippur. But I believe this will not have an affect on either side. Coaches used to tell us in the past and rightly so: ‘at matches like this one must keep his heart warn and head cool. We will need to go all out in terms of emotions and feelings because this is what could win you the match. But on the other hand, we must be smart and know when is the right moment to do so. When we are dominant or have the right momentum, this is where our experience will have to play its part.”
