Tomorrow Maccabi will host Hapoel Petach Tikva in the final match of the normal season
After securing the top spot in the table at the start top-six playoffs, Maccabi Tel Aviv will play their last match of the normal Israeli Premier ("Winner") League season against Hapoel Petach Tikva tomorrow night at Bloomfield Stadium at 8.55pm. The home side will be looking to optimise the start of their play-off campaign, which kicks off against Maccabi Haifa next week, by widening the gap with their title rivals Ironi Kiryat Shmona, who lost their final normal season encounter on Saturday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_c8XCCbiCQ
At a pre-match press conference attended by head coach Pako Ayestaran and veteran striker Barak Itzhaki, the coach admitted: "After twenty-five features the team that is in front is there because maybe they deserve it. That we could be better, probably yes. The difficulty of a winners team is to continue winning. After winning two championships, sometimes winning one, when you are not used to it, the coming season normally is difficult". Asked if perhaps the squad weren't strong enough to take the third consecutive title, the Spaniard responded: "It's difficult, not because of the quality. It's difficult because of the mentality. The beginning of the season is the easiest part for any club, any coach, any player, because there is the desire, everybody wants to show that they are capable of being in, the trophies are still not putting pressure on the players, everybody's focused. As soon as you are closer to the end of the season, many winds have moved the boat, and the boat instead of going forward starts to go from one side to the other. Everything affects the end of the season. That's why I want to think about today. I want to think about the best work we can do today. Even coaches who are not thinking about what we have to do today, and start thinking about what can happen in a week's time, in eight weeks' time or next pre-season, I think we are making a mistake. I think everybody should know this. I want to think about today, that's what I think is going to be the approach from now on because if we start losing focus, I think we are losing energy from what matters".
Barak Itzhaki has just returned to full training and will be match-fit tomorrow night: "I just recovered from a long injury a few months ago and I was in fine form," the veteran striker related. "Then I got another knock that set me back, but now I'm ready for tomorrow's game. I'm hungrier than ever and want to prove to myself and to the coach I deserve a place in this club. Maccabi are a big club, the top club in Israel, and that's where I want to play. I believe in myself, in my abilities and I just know that once I get out there again and play my game that will be the best way to show the club I'm worthy of my spot".
Asked to compare the team's performance this year with that of last season, Itzhaki replied: "Look, you can always find different ways of comparing seasons. Last year we were successful and this year too. We're top of table and in the Cup semi-finals. That's two good seasons on the trot and that's no mean feat. I'm happy to be a part of all that". He added: "Of course it's all down to us. I think you should be looking at it differently, to give credit to the people on this team, and recognise where we are in the table and in the Cup. There's still a long way to go and of course I hope we make it. Right now we're focused on the match against Hapoel Petach Tikva. It's a big game and gives us a chance for more room at the top".
