After winning the championship, Coach Pako Ayestaran spoke about the achievement that was gained after the win against Kiryat Shmona:
“I had the responsibility to win the league championship and I now feel that the job is done. You always sit down at the end of the season and analyze, even if you are successful at your job. The first thing I will do once the season is over is to analyze myself, learn what I could have done better”.
Pako was asked if it is sweeter to win the league championship with Maccabi rather than other titles he won during his time as assistant coach in Liverpool: “They are different experiences. I feel that the staff made us winners- every person in the club from my assistants, scouts, up to the medical staff, they were all responsible for the success because they made life easier for the players. One of the most disappointing things in football is that every person wants to own the success. All of us are a part of the success and are a part in case of a failure.
Pako was asked if this squad can make it to the group stages of the Champions League: “That is not something I need to talk about at the moment. At the end of the day, the squad for next season is not built yet. “
In regards to the long list of injured players ahead of the State Cup final on Wednesday night: “I will try to be creative and use all the resources available to me, but it’s not going to be an excuse if we don’t win the cup. When it comes to knockout games, you must perform, if we will not perform on Wednesday night it's quite simple- we won't win the cup.
