Maccabi began the domestic league season on the back foot with a 3-1 defeat to Bnei Sachnin at Doha stadium. At the end of the match, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen said: “This is not how we wanted to open our season. I think we started the match well, were very organised and moved the ball in an organised manner. Until we scored from a set piece we looked good, but from that moment on we didn’t play as good”.
Midfielder Eden Shamir who made his Maccabi league debut as a second half substitute, said after the game: “We wanted to start the season totally different, with a victory but didn’t do it. There is no doubt we must look much better. I am sure we will work hard during the international break and will do whatever is needed so that we return much stronger”.
