Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach spoke to the assembled media at the prematch press conference ahead of Saturday night’s Matchday 24 clash against Hapoel Haifa at the Netanya Stadium at 20:30:
“It’s an important game against a very consistent team and dangerous on the counter attack and set pieces. They have played very good football and if they are up in the rankings at this point of the season then they are dangerous and fighting for the title.”
The decisive weekend:
“I don’t think this weekend is that, but every game is vital. We saw the damage losing points like last Matchday but this is still not the moment where teams will pull apart. The top teams have to play each other twice and there are tough battles ahead.”
Will a win leave Hapoel Haifa behind:
“I don’t think so. They don’t play without the typical pressure when it comes to fighting for titles. They are super dangerous with fast players and have had a very good season.”
Looking back at the Raanana match:
“There was a clear difference between the two halves. If you shoot 20-21 times some that were very close, you would hope that one would have gone in. We should have won the game but we struggled with our creativity.”
Finding solutions on the pitch:
“I think we can find solutions. Just like we try to stop the strong points of the opponents, they try to do the same. We lost a lot of balls and possession in the first half and we struggled.”
Maccabi’s set pieces:
“The last two games we have created chances off our corners but we didn’t score. Babin had two shots from set pieces near the goal show that we are improving. We didn’t lose because of the that though it’s an important part of today’s football.”
Compare and contrast the Haifa and Maccabi squad’s:
“You can’t compare players and squad’s. It’s not a matter of the foreigners it’s about the whole squad.”
Injured players status:
“We have a lot, but we will see in Saturday.”
Fitting Omer Atzily into the lineup when fit:
“We never play the system that is written we just occupy spaces. Omer has been out for a number of months with a tough injury. Where he gets back to full match fitness and he can play, then we will see.”
Lack of playing time for Jose Rodriguez:
“The team has been winning games and we have been sticking to a similar midfield. When he has a chance he can grab it with both hands and there will be chances. Before the Raanana match the players have been playing well and we want to have continuity. We all make choices some right and some wrong.”
Loaning players out like Rozlan Barsky:
“The fact we never let go of Rozlan says something. We chose the path of Ramle for young players and it’s been a very successful one at the moment for many players. When the moment is right they will come to Maccabi but it’s a decision for down the road.”
Central defender Jean-Sylvain Babin also spoke about the upcoming contest:
“I felt very sad after the game and we lost three points. But this is football and we have to now try to win this Saturday.”
Expectations for the match against Hapoel Haifa:
“I except the same as the first game, they have good transition and we have to try to play good football and score.”
Decisive Matchday?
“It may be crucial but we have more games. We have to be focused on the upcoming game right now.”
Third place on the table:
“We may be third right now, but the season is long and we have to win Saturday. Right not I am not worried if we are 2nd or 3rd. We have to keep working and focus on Saturday.”
