“We are extremely disappointed” Eran Zahavi said at the end of the match that saw Maccabi crash out of the State Cup. “Reineh entered our penalty box three times and scored twice. We concede too easily, with a bit of bad luck, lack of concentration and aggressiveness, understanding the situation – one can’t continue this way. We need to a be a lot more focused, more concentrated to be more Maccabi Tel Aviv.”
Zahavi, who didn’t add to his six-goal tally in all competitions and struggled to reach many chances, added: “Even our attacking game is a team effort. I didn’t receive the ball too much. We were lacking in the final pass and didn’t have it today. We didn’t reach the chances we needed to and when we did it was half chances, but they were not as good as we are used to. We are dropping points to smaller clubs, but they also want to win duals, and we were lacking in that department. We will just have to improve.”
The 37-year-old captain who was disappointed to mis a chance to add a title to his trophy cabinet, added: “We are Maccabi Tel Aviv and must come and display good form over 90 minutes. Despite the fact I have a lot of respect for our opponents, I am disappointed for the fans. But Maccabi must beat a team like Reineh in the Cup especially at Bloomfield in front of our fans. Fair play to Reineh as I wish them all the best of luck.”
To sum up his personal performance on the night, Zahavi said: “I think I was back to my good form, I am playing more minutes and enjoying my football. As for the chances, I need chances to be created for me, I was never a player who dribbles, I need to receive the ball in the dangerous chances and today it wasn’t as much. When the game is flowing, I can bring my ability and when it doesn’t happen it is tougher.”