Mahran Radi is already looking forward to Wednesday: "I'm sure we'll be there with our usual motivation"
After going three consecutive matches without a win for the first time since February 2012, there was an unfamiliar atmosphere in the Maccabi camp after last night's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Hapoel Haifa: "It's always disappointing to lose", said midfielder Mahran Radi to the official Maccabi Tel Aviv website right after the match. "Thank goodness we don't lose very often, but still it's a great disappointment". A disappointment made even greater by the fact that until tonight, the team hadn't lost in their last thirteen encounters. "I think the lads felt that at some stage it had to happen. But I'm sure we'll carry on working and improving and get the results we want".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NCvFMY6X6Q
The veteran midfielder is sure that Maccabi Tel Aviv have what it takes to get back into form and he's already looking ahead of Wednesday's replay of their State Cup quarter final first leg at Ironi Kiryat Shmona: "We have a whole run of difficult games ahead of us and that's how the strength of our side will be measured. I'm sure we'll come out on top. We'll be getting ready for Kiryat Shmona like we prepare for every match, like we prepared for this match and for the ones before that. There are no special preparations. I'm sure we'll be there with our usual motivation, the one that got us all those points up to now, and I hope and believe that we'll look better than tonight, that's what we'll be aiming for".
Team captain Sheran Yeini was also keen to reassure the Maccabi faithful that the performances of the last three outings did not represent a crisis: "We certainly don't look at it that way. The fact that we haven't won in three games makes it obvious we're not in top form. But we're not overly worried because the way we work is good and we'll be making adjustments for the matches up ahead. We're always keeping our season objectives in mind and that keeps us motivated to continue to improve what we do. We have people analysing the matches and they tell us what went wrong and why we've been dropping points in our last outings. Kiryat Shmona and Netanya were different and now we'll be focusing on Kiryat Shmona and analysing what's required for Wednesday's encounter".
"It's that time of the season when all the clubs are hitting a kind of mental block, including the ones at the top of the table, and we'll all have to get over it. It's a good thing it's happening to everyone at once, I just hope we'll be the first ones to get out of it. We still have season targets to achieve and that keeps us hungry. Maybe we could be more energised and do a bit more but first we want to sort out the technical things that haven't gone well recently, those are the most important things at the moment. But not to worry, where motivation and character are concerned, we're on top of it".
