Maccabi return to league action from the international break with a top of the table clash away to leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva on Monday. Zarko Lazetic’s side beat Be’ersheva 1-0 when both sides met at Bloomfield earlier this season and were held to a 2-2 draw at the corresponding fixture at Turner. Maccabi are currently on 60 points at second place with the best away record in the league, one point adrift of Be’ersheva who are unbeaten at home.
Gabi Kanichowsky, who faced the media for the pre-match press conference spoke of the importance of the match in the context of the title race. “It is a key match, but there are several matches still left to play. Be’ersheva must still travel and play us at home. Obviously, we would like to be top, so it will be a very good and interesting match.” The 27-year-old midfielder who was left out of Israel’s squad that played Estonia and Norway and enjoyed some time off during the international break, reflected: “We are used to this, it happens every year, there is plenty of motivation when you receive a week off. You return hungrier as we are facing the final run-in, so this holiday is good. It is a key match and everyone is excited.”
Kanichowsky who played 185 matches for Maccabi in all competitions and has won several trophies at Maccabi, rejected claims that the hunger is something exclusive for his teams’ opponents: “I am just as excited as I was last season and even hungrier than last season despite winning the league title together with several players here. You want to win the championship in every year and this season is no different. I am sure the other side also wish to do so as well. We are experienced and know to deal with crucial matches, but it will be tough, and we must come prepared.”
Kanichowsky remained with his feet firmly on the ground as he added: “Be’ersheva were top spot until now and deserve a lot of credit, while we were competing in Europe, yet the gap remained minimal, so we also deserve some respect. We know that people tend to disrespect Maccabi Tel Aviv, but we also know what we are worth. Tomorrow, we want to just turn it around.”
Kanichowsky, who this season scored 3 and assisted 12 more goals in 40 appearances in comparison to 11 and 11 in 53 matches during the previous campaign, reflected: “What I am contributing to this team is just like last season if not more. The media tends to look at the numbers, it is there given right but I am focused on my own game and know what I am worth. I think that the coach also knows what I am worth, so I am ok with that.”
Maccabi return to league action from the international break with a top of the table clash away to leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva on Monday. Zarko Lazetic’s side beat Be’ersheva 1-0 when both sides met at Bloomfield earlier this season and were held to a 2-2 draw at the corresponding fixture at Turner. Maccabi are currently on 60 points at second place with the best away record in the league, one point adrift of Be’ersheva who are unbeaten at home.
Gabi Kanichowsky, who faced the media for the pre-match press conference spoke of the importance of the match in the context of the title race. “It is a key match, but there are several matches still left to play. Be’ersheva must still travel and play us at home. Obviously, we would like to be top, so it will be a very good and interesting match.” The 27-year-old midfielder who was left out of Israel’s squad that played Estonia and Norway and enjoyed some time off during the international break, reflected: “We are used to this, it happens every year, there is plenty of motivation when you receive a week off. You return hungrier as we are facing the final run-in, so this holiday is good. It is a key match and everyone is excited.”
Kanichowsky who played 185 matches for Maccabi in all competitions and has won several trophies at Maccabi, rejected claims that the hunger is something exclusive for his teams’ opponents: “I am just as excited as I was last season and even hungrier than last season despite winning the league title together with several players here. You want to win the championship in every year and this season is no different. I am sure the other side also wish to do so as well. We are experienced and know to deal with crucial matches, but it will be tough, and we must come prepared.”
Kanichowsky remained with his feet firmly on the ground as he added: “Be’ersheva were top spot until now and deserve a lot of credit, while we were competing in Europe, yet the gap remained minimal, so we also deserve some respect. We know that people tend to disrespect Maccabi Tel Aviv, but we also know what we are worth. Tomorrow, we want to just turn it around.”
Kanichowsky, who this season scored 3 and assisted 12 more goals in 40 appearances in comparison to 11 and 11 in 53 matches during the previous campaign, reflected: “What I am contributing to this team is just like last season if not more. The media tends to look at the numbers, it is there given right but I am focused on my own game and know what I am worth. I think that the coach also knows what I am worth, so I am ok with that.”
