Gabi Kanichowsky has yet to open his account in terms of goals at the 2024/25 campaign but the 26-year-old midfielder is on a mission to help the side advance to the next stage of the Europa League.
The 2-1 victory in Lithuania last week is only a narrow lead as Kanichowsy highlights the fact the job is far from complete: “It is definitely not over yet” he said at the pre match press conference at the Haldas stadium in Szombathely, Hungary. We opened the first half of the first leg really well, took the game by storm” he says about Maccabi’s two-goal lead inside the opening minutes. “But in the second half we got a little tired which leaves us with a point to prove tomorrow. This match is extremely important for the rest of our journey as well.”
The fact Panevezys scored a consolation goal which placed Maccabi under pressure in the closing stages last week, still lives fresh in Kanichowsky’s memory as he said: “We were under pressure in the final twenty minutes which leads to me waiting for tomorrow’s match to kick off. We need to prove ourselves once again. There is plenty to show and prove that the 2-1 wasn’t enough. We had great start but then our form dipped which leaves us with tomorrow to make amends”
On the past week the team spent outside Israel preparing for the match in Hungary, Kanichowsky added: “It was difficult to leave all our families behind but we have a good opportunity tomorrow to secure a group stage berth and do something good for our country and in particular the Maccabi fans. Last aeason we had a very successful campaign. I think that this season we are disappointed we didn’t qualify for the Champions League but the target both the players and coaching staff have is reaching the Europa League. First and foremost we must complete tomorrow’s task.”
