Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered a disappointing defeat to CSKA Sofia this evening in the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round. Head coach Kenny Miller shared his thoughts after the match and highlighted the objectives ahead of next week’s decisive return leg.
“This tie is still far from over, but the goal we conceded at the end certainly makes the challenge bigger,” Miller said after the final whistle. “There were good things throughout the game, but there were also a lot of bad things. Once again, we didn’t win our individual battles, which is the ‘dirty’ side of football, and we were too slow getting back when we gave the ball away cheaply. I felt we lost possession too many times even when we weren’t under any pressure, like with the third goal, which came from a simple forward pass and a counter-attack. We were too open in those moments, and that’s something that hadn’t characterised us at the start of the season.”
The coach continued by explaining what will be required next week: “We’ll have to be much better next week. In the second half we saw that CSKA sat back and waited for those moments to hurt us, and they’re good at that. We’ll have to make sure we don’t allow them so many opportunities like that, get back quicker and harder, and be much sharper in front of goal. We should have been 2-0 up after four minutes. We know we’ll create chances, but in those situations we have to be much more clinical in front of goal.”
Miller was asked whether he had been surprised by the Bulgarian side’s style of play and replied: “We weren’t surprised at all. It was exactly the same team we saw in their two matches against Qarabağ. They work hard, defend well and don’t give much away. In games like these, goals change everything and you have to know how to take your chances. Tonight CSKA took their moments extremely well, while we didn’t show the best version of ourselves.”
The match was played behind closed doors at an empty stadium in Batumi, and Miller addressed the effect that had on the game: “It’s never easy playing without supporters in the stands, but it’s the same situation for both teams. We still have to bring the energy, tempo and intensity to the game and push each other. The staff on the touchline try to help and push as much as possible, but on the pitch the players have to help their teammates. It’s not ideal, but it’s not an excuse that should affect our performance. For long periods we were in control, but when we lost possession, the goals we conceded were simply very poor.”
Finally, the coach was asked whether the fact that the Bulgarian league season had already begun gave the opposition an advantage in terms of match fitness and stability.
“It’s natural that players who are already six or seven games into their season will have a better rhythm, but it hadn’t affected us until now. We came into this after three very strong performances and excellent results at the start of the season, so that’s not an excuse. Football is decided by moments. We had two huge chances at the start of the game and didn’t take them, and then conceded from their very first attack. The goal we conceded on the counter-attack in the final minute gives us a mountain to climb in the return leg, but next week we’ll come with a better approach and take it step by step, goal by goal.”
