The Maccabi midfielder spoke ahead of the Europa League MD1 away to Sporting Braga (Thursday, 22:00) about the pride of representing Israel abroad.
The 29-year-old midfielder who enjoyed a good start to the season scoring 3 goals in the qualifiers spoke ahead of the start to the Group League phase. “We expect a tough match against a strong opponent” Peretz said at the start of the press conference at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. “They have quality players and are playing very well as a team. I think that if we remain focused, bring the level of intensity and aggressiveness required at this level, use the principals our coach introduced us to – we stand a chance of showing our quality at this tough match. This will be our task tomorrow.”
When asked about the tough situation Maccabi coping with, having to play away from home while the war is being fought in Israel for 355 days, Peretz said: “Playing abroad is something which we are experienced in for almost a year. We are doing this while our country is in s state of war and soldiers are dying protecting our country. Our friends are doing everything to try save the country and control the situation. We are here focusing on football and must look at the fact that we are representing Israel. As an Israeli team we are showing the country’s strength by playing football abroad. We must do our best for our country, even if it is only in football, but we still must do our best. We always think about what goes on back home and try bringing with us the passion of our fans who can’t be here with us and are disappointed we are not hosting matches at home. We are doing all this for their sake and for the sake of our country”.
