After picking up a pair of clean sheets in the past two league matches, keeper Predrag Rajikovic looked ahead to Saturday’s top of the table clash against Hapoel Hadera (17:00) and began by talking about his National team performance with Serbia:

“It’s not my first time but my 9th time. The match against Romania was good and I played 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet which was important for me. We have a chance to qualify.”

More about the National team:
“It’s always nice to play with the National team but this is football and only 11 players can play at a time. I always support the team from the bench when I don’t play. Perhaps I’m happier than usual because I did play.”

Winning the league title at Maccabi:
“I am here for my 4th season and I’m here to take the championship. I won’t leave before I take it.”

About Saturday’s match against Hapoel Hadera:
“I don’t think that this is the match of the season as it has just started. It’s the two top teams right now. We have to respect them as they are in first and we have to be prepared for this game, the battle and the fight. If we give the maximum we can win this game.”

Clean sheets:
“I’m happy when I have a clean sheet and it’s important for the team. I think that the team who will concede less goals will take the championship.”

Hadera’s style of play:
“Hadera are a good team and they won five games and drew one. They play attacking football and they aren’t afraid and don’t defend like other teams in the league, so I think there will be more space to play. We need to keep the ball and be more accurate in the last third of the pitch.”