Maccabi captain Sheran Yeini was all smiles after winning the Tel Aviv derby: "We should have scored more goals"
The morning after Maccabi Tel Aviv's 2-0 victory in the Tel Aviv derby, it was all smiles in the Yellow half of the city, not least among the players themselves and all the more so because the game went so well. Maccabi head coach Pako Ayestaran was himself the picture of contentment when he faced curious journalists after the match: "Yes, especially because of the win. We won a derby, that is important for the club, for our position in the table and for the supporters as well. And especially because we played a fantastic game in the first 25 minutes, half an hour, and that's the way I want to see Maccabi playing. Maybe after there was a lack of patience and we were too anxious to score, a little bit of anxiety to arrive quick, especially because in the first two three minutes we had I think two great chances in the second half and because we didn't score, everybody tried to score. I think we broke the team a little bit into two parts. The togetherness and close distances in the first half we lost a little bit in the second half and we stretched the team a little bit too much. But I thought at that moment we needed one more player to connect in front of the central defenders and to play 4-2-3-1".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgAMWyxLPx4
Asked if he felt the derby win had brought Maccabi one step closer to the title, the Spaniard replied: "Not really. To win titles you need consistency and consistency means that we have to continue at the same level if we want to win this championship. Because Kiryat Shmona and Beer Sheva have shown until now that they are able to win games and I expect them to continue winning games. In this case we mustn't slow down our pace. In the last ten games I think we have won eight and drawn just two. We have probably been at this level and one of the things we have to do is to keep the level of the first thirty-five for longer and be sure that this is the way of playing – control the game, take the right positions, be patient. Because the opportunities to control the game are going to rise". And did he believe that Maccabi's league's leading goalscorer, midfielder Eran Zahavi, would regain his touch and contribute to that effort? "As long as we continue scoring. I would love him to score because I think he needs to score. For the prolific scorers it's their breath and their feeding. But he's going to score. He has to be patient and the players who are so prolific in front of goal they have to be patient and be sure that they will score goals".
Team captain Sheran Yeini gave his assessment of his own contribution to Maccabi's derby triumph: "I played good defensively, but I could have done better going forward. It wasn't easy, in the first half we dominated and that made it easier, but in the second half the game moved from box to box and that puts more pressure on the back four. The match felt good for the whole team, we had some good chances and should even have had a few whistles, but the ref did a good job keeping tempers down and cautioned players in time. When you're out there it doesn't feel easy, we work hard so that it looks easy to the spectators. I'm very confident of our team, I'm very confident of our progress, I'm very confident of our abilities and after a match like this we're even a little disappointed we didn't score more goals and didn't control the tie start to finish. That's how much we've progressed".
Nikola Mitrovic, whose goal on the night was his second in as many weeks and who has played a number of derbies, was asked if he thought this particular derby was the easiest of the lot: "I don't think so. I think all the derbies are emotional, for the players and also for the fans. But I think they're also a good team. Maybe they're not in a good position but we showed today that we're a better team than they are". Asked if he was happy with his goal, and especially the fans chanting his name afterwards, the Serbian midfielder responded: "Of course. It's my first goal in the derby and it's also emotional for me. I'm very happy for the goal and also for the three points. I'm always happy. I really like them and I can feel they also like me. I can say I am really happy here". Finally Mitro was asked if he thought this was his best season so far: "We will see in the end. Until now it's okay but it's a hard way to the Championship. Maybe I won't play so well anymore. It depends on me. If I play well, if I score more goals, if I give good passes, if I assist goals, of course I'll be happy. We will see in the end".
For Maccabi's young international defender Dor Peretz, this was his maiden appearance in a derby first eleven, and his excitement was obvious: "Very emotional. When I was a kid I used to watch these derbies from the terraces and dream about this moment. I'm very happy. Like always the first eleven went up on the board before the match and I couldn't take for granted that I'd even be in the squad let alone the first eleven. I'm very grateful for the opportunity and I'm doing the best I can. I've seen a lot of players in the past, I see my brother too (defender at Hapoel Ramat Gan), anything can happen, I'm living in the present and the future is still some ways off. I'll continue to work hard and I'll be grateful for any compliments I get from the coach or you and carry on with my efforts to prove myself on the pitch".
