Maccabi Tel Aviv extended their 100% record in the league with a solid performance beating Maccabi 2-1 on MD5 to go into the international break with 15 points. Maccabi’s Head Coach Kenny Miller who was forced to deal with an injury of Ali Camara in the warm-up and then lost Helio Varela to another injury 15 minutes into the game, praised the character and commitment shown by his players.
“These are another three very important points for us,” Miller said: “We played an excellent first half. If you look at the numbers from that half, we had complete control of the game. Of course, we had a few obstacles along the way with the injuries to Camara and Varela, who had to go off early, but we played very well. We knew Netanya were a good team who would come out and press more in the second half, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Miller praised his players’ determination in the second half: “Even when we don’t play our best football in the second half, wins like this are perhaps the most satisfying. You see character, determination and a lot of togetherness to protect the goal and put your bodies on the line. To be a team that is fighting for the championship, you have to know how to win games in different ways over the course of a season. We can’t score three or four goals every week. Sometimes you have to know how to battle and protect your lead, and I think we did that tonight.”
On how the players defended the narrow lead in the second half, Miller added: “You saw, for example, Elad Madmon at the end of the game, fighting and putting his body on the line to defend and help the team. We still had chances to score another goal if we had been a little more accurate in the box, but that fighting spirit is what brought us three big points.”
On the performance of Gabi Kanichowsky who seemed like he never left Maccabi and spent a season in Hungary, Miller paid compliments to the 29-year-old midfielder: “That’s exactly why we wanted to bring him back to Maccabi Tel Aviv. We knew what a wonderful player he is and what kind of impact he could have on the team. He made that impact immediately, and it feels like he never left. Gabi brings something different with him, he connects the midfield and helps the team with that connection. I’m very happy with the way he has performed and contributed in his first three games since returning.”
Gabi Kanichowsky said after the match: “You can’t play brilliantly in every game, and the most important thing is the three points. We weren’t as good on the ball, but ultimately you have to know how to get the points. In the second half, the energy wasn’t really there. We pressed and won second balls, but we just weren’t sharp enough in possession. We came out for the second half and conceded an early goal, which was exactly what we didn’t want. We kept pressing and brought the energy; we didn’t play that well, but the three points are what matter.”
Kanichowsky, who returned to Maccabi after a season with Ferencvaros and has previously won five trophies at the club, added: “The season is still long, and we really need to stay focused, keep improving and get better. Things are looking good at the moment, but we can’t afford to become complacent. It’s difficult for me to talk about myself, but when they called me and told me they wanted me, first of all, there’s no bigger compliment in the world than a club like Maccabi Tel Aviv still wanting you, that’s not something you take for granted. When they spoke to me, I told them that my goal is to succeed at the highest levels, go far with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and represent the country and the club in European competitions.”
