Tag: champions league

Here I am: Meet Avi Rikan

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Avi Rikan joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in time to play in the pair of games against Viktoria Plzen during Champions League qualifying. Little did he know that just a bit over a month later he would be playing in the group stages of the illustrious competition and taking to the pitch in England against the Premier League Champs, Chelsea. It’s been a whirlwind for one of Maccabi’s news stars as Rikan talks about coming back to play in Israel, the Champions league and more:

הנה אני בא: ת.ז עם אבי ריקן

Q: Why did you decide to come back and play in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv?

“I had to make a decision as to where I would play and where I could also continue to advance and improve. I received offers both in Switzerland and other places in Europe. You know a player has to weigh his options and also look at what type of place can help him as well. I made my choice and I don’t regret it.”

Q: How did you feel when you went onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea?

AQ7A0180“Against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge I entered some sort of bubble. I tried to disconnect from all of the excitement and the experience in order to perform the best that I could on the pitch, but it’s hard to disconnect from such an amazing atmosphere, the Champions League anthem and the crowd. If Mourinho came over and asked us if this game was in Tel Aviv because of the terrific supporters this explains exactly what kind of feeling it was to be on the grandest stage. When I got home and I looked back at the whole experience, I realized how powerful it was.”

Q: You were able to quickly become part of the team?

I’ve been hearing that from the first day I arrived here. That’s just my character. When I got to Zurich I was given the captain’s armband after only two months with the club. Not the first but the second captain, they gave me the responsibility very quickly and I enjoy it, it’s fun for me. I think that it’s also fun for the guys.”

Short questions & answers:

Q: Tell us something that we don’t know about you?

“There’s not a lot. Unlike many players I don’t have any superstitions.”

Q: Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?

“As someone from Jerusalem, when you say Tel Aviv it’s pretty serious, but I’ve softened אבי ריקןup a bit since I’ve gotten here. Now I live in Rishon Le’Zion so it’s somewhere in the middle.”

Q: The white, blue or yellow Maccabi Jersey?

“I think the yellow. Maccabi’s yellow, isn’t it? There all nice and I have all three at home. But I think for Maccabi, it’s got to be the yellow.”

Q: Defensive back or midfielder?

“Midfielder. I like to play as a midfielder. I like playing offense as I’m better on the attack than defensively. But if I’m needed to play as a defensive back, I’m there.”

Q: Which three friends would you invite to your Sukkah?

“If I had the option I would take all of them and with God’s help build a big enough Sukkah for everyone. But if I had to choose, then I’d first invite Eden Ben Basat who always puts a smile on my face. Barak Itzhaki, because he’s someone I really like even from when we played together with Beitar Jerusalem. The third would have to be winger Tal Ben Chaim”.

Cruyff: “We are trying to gain valuable experience”

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Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Sporting Director Jordi Cruyff summed up the the first match for the Yellow-and-Blue in the Champions League after falling to Chelsea 4:0. at Stamford Bridge. Cruyff isn’t disappointed with the result and doesn’t believe it will effect the team morale as they face Hapoel Raanana in Israeli league play.

 

ג’ורדי קרויף: “זאת הייתה קבלת פנים מהרמה הגבוהה באירופה”.

Disappointed:

“I’m not sure. I don’t take it that way, there’s a difference in the level. I may be disappointed as to the way we gave up some of the goals and try not give up a goal from a free kick. It’s been many years since we had an opponent at this level and I hope we can learn from it.”

We’re some of the players not up to their usual standards of play:

“Maybe. The opponent also has an influence on the result at this level. When you give half a meter you’re going to be too late. They have very fast and athletic players and we haven’t had to compete at this level for a long time. I’m not pessimistic for the following matches. The most important thing is to show character and strength in the league for the next  game and in the local league. Hopefully we can learn from this for the next European game, the level here is obvious.”

The new ‘keeper Rajkovic made a crucial mistake:

“I haven’t seen the replay on TV and in all honesty we lost 4:0 and I’ve seen a lot of mistakes today. I don’t think we should pick out just one mistake. We’re not going to win the Champions League and we had two 19-year olds on the pitch and we are trying to gain valuable experience.”

How would you judge some of the players:

“Some players reached a good level and showed that they could compete physically and I saw a number of good things. We played here against the English Premier League champion and we shouldn’t lose what the reality is and keep our eyes open as to the team’s we are playing.”

Will the match effect their play in the league:

“I hope not and I expect not as the players have shown a lot of character over the past few years. But I expect the team to come back in strong way. This should not effect us because this is the big boys competition.”

How would sum up the total experience against Chelsea:

“I think it’s not a happy welcome but they showed us what the Champions League is all about and it’s up to us to learn from it and try to learn for the next games. We have to take this well and not say that this was a disaster. Realistically it may be much easier to compete in the Europa League but the fact is we wanted to test ourselves at the highest levels which means we will play better opponents.

Chelsea have an amazing squad and an amazing coach. They also played at home with a point to prove and had to get the bad feeling from the league out of their system and we were a good candidate for them.”

Are you looking forward for the next Champions League match against Dynamo Kyiv:

“Right now I’m looking forward to Raanana on the weekend and this is where we have to compete. The priority for the club now that we are playing in the Champions League is number one with no doubt to compete for the league.”

How is owner Mitch Goldhar after this experience:

“I think he’s ok and I don’t see disappointment in him. At Maccabi we are trying to be realistic.”

A Family Connection: The Dasa Brothers in a Joint Interview

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Maccabi Tel Aviv FC journeyed to London yesterday with both the first team and the Under-19 youth side who will also be playing in to the Champions League Youth Tournament. There were quite a number of stories that surrounded the flight including that of brothers Or and Eli Dasa who are both part of the club. Watch the interview with Or who plays on the Under-21 team and Eli from Maccabi’s first team.

קשר משפחתי, האחים דסה לא נפרדים גם בלונדון

A Dasa family trip to London?

 Or-This is my first time here, it’s good so far.

 Eli- We always looked out for one another but now it’s nice that I’m even closer to help Or out, we’re happy to be here.

 What did your family think about the two of you going to London?

 Eli- It’s a big honor for our mother as both of her sons are here in London playing against Chelsea in the Champions League. I hope we can make the family happy back home when they watch the matches. It was interesting to both be on the flight together and I hope next time I’ll be able to play so we will have a double celebration!

Carlos Garcia looked ahead to London

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Maccabi Tel Aviv’s central defender Carlos Garcia talked about last match 1:1 draw with Kiryat Shemona and also discussed the upcoming Champions League match in London against English Premier League Champions, Chelsea. Watch the video

קרלוס גארסיה מסכם את המשחק מול קרית שמונה