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At a press conference ahead of Kiryat Shmona, head coach Pako Ayestaran talked about the game ahead, his coaching philosophy and the latest squad updates

A day before Maccabi Tel Aviv's third top-six playoff tie at Ironi Kiryat Shmona, and moments ahead of the final practice, head coach Pako Ayestaran and defender Yoav Ziv attended a press conference at the team's training ground at Kiryat Shalom. Asked what he anticipated from tomorrow's contest, the Maccabi coach replied: "Difficult game. A team that has been able to win for so many weeks and has been through a difficult time due to injuries. But they have the potential, they have been winning for such a long time, you expect a tough game, a difficult game, and we will have to perform to our peak if we want to get something from that. They are the same players and we really know they are going to try to show everybody that they are still able to beat us. In this case we have to be ready to perform to our level if you want to get something from that".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbuohpR8NfQ

Pako

Maccabi go into the match after three consecutive league victories that see them top of the table and ten points ahead of tomorrow night's rival, who are currently languishing in third place. Asked if he found it strange that as a result the domestic press were suddenly re-evaluating his value to the club, Pako replied: "I know the opinions change from one week to another and you are as good as the last game. This is something we have to live with but for me nothing has changed. I know my potential, I know what I am capable of". And is this his way of educating the local football culture? "Not to educate, to set the ideas I believe in. Sometimes it's a culture that is set in each country and little by little I think there are things that can improve, trying to keep the personality of the country. But these are things that can make the football better, and this is what I'm trying to set. But at the moment the decision I have to take is which ones are going to be the ideas I am going to set or introduce to my team in this training session. And this is what I am going to be focused on, at a moment that's the most important part of the season, to try to get these players in the best performance tomorrow".

The Spaniard was also questioned about his decision to select Yoav Ziv over Omri Ben Harush for the left back spot in last week's encounter with Hapoel Beer Sheva: "The coaches are called coaches because we coach. And the coaching is down to the training sessions. The players that show they are in the right moment I have to try to get the best from them". Nonetheless, defender Carlos Garcia will not be available at all tomorrow due to suspension, along with fellow centre back Yuval Shpungin. The assembled press were curious why Shpungin had seen no first-eleven action throughout the season so far. Pako: "When I arrived he went through an injury, he recovered, he was injured again, he went to have surgery, he recovered. Now he's sick. It has been a difficult season for him".