“We worked on things during training before Kiryat Shmona as well as today. I am delighted that the players did the things I had asked them to especially in the first half. I am not happy with our performance in the second half as we had a dip in form which is something we will need to improve” Itzhaki said, “We created enough chances and we are capable of creating more but this is a gradual process. This is a European competition which is always difficult regardless what opponent we are facing – I am delighted that we made it easy for ourselves”.

On Maccabi’s two successful seasons in Europe, Itzhaki added: “Last season we had a pretty good European season. We advanced past the group stages, we played against a team that we saw them play at the Bernabeu last night and if I am not mistaken we were not too far behind over the two legs. This season we started our European campaign very well. We are now in a position that guarantees qualification, yet we still don’t know where, but this is important. The financial side is important as well”.

“Every game we win and even score six goals in the past two matches, gives the players confidence and belief in their quality so all they have to do is show that on the pitch” Itzhaki added. With Sunday’s Tel Aviv derby just around the corner, Itzhaki summed up: “Now we will begin preparations for Sunday’s match which is very important and I don’t even have to explain how important. In the wake of our start to the season we can’t afford to look too far ahead but only concentrate on a game by game. We did that in Kiryat Shmona, we did it today and hopefully we will do it in Sunday’s derby as well”

32-year-old Ben Chaim, added: “It is an important victory” Ben Chaim said, “We played our part today and I think that we have met our expectations so far in the Conference League. From the start of the season there were background noises that this competition is not the Europa League but we as a club define it as a success so far”.

Matan Hozez related to the fact Maccabi secured qualification to at least the first knockout phase of the competition as he said: “This is what is required of a club like Maccabi, with the quality squad that we have and the investment of the club. We are obviously satisfied but at the same time know that this is what is expected of us”.

Hozez, who scored Maccabi’s third goal on the night, spoke about working under Barak Itzhaki: “There is a good atmosphere, the players are enjoying themselves, everyone is raising the tempo in training and give their best. We all want to play, the style has changed a little as there is more creativity”.

Pre Match

With seven points from the opening three matches Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Bloomfield stadium ahead of the Conference League match against HJK Helsinki. The 5-0 victory over HJK under heavy rain at Helsinki last month, kept Maccabi top of group 1 and level on points with Austrian outfit LASK. Since then, HJK were crowned as Finland’s Champions while Maccabi parted company with Patrick van Leeuwen and appointed Head of the Football Department, Barak Itzhaki, as interim coach. While the search for a permanent continues, Itzhaki, who guided the team to a 3-1 league win away to Kiryat Shmona , made several changes to the starting line up.

The defence remained unchanged as Andre Geraldes and Enric Saborit were the two full-backs on the right and left respectively while Shahar Piven and Luis Hernandez lined-up in front of Daniel Peretz. Sheran Yeini who completed his one-match touchline ban, returned to the heart of midfield and led the team out wearing the captain’s armband on his 500th appearance for the club. Dan Glazer lined-up alongside Yeini in the midfield engine room with Gabi Kanichowsky assigned to the attacking midfield. Tal Ben Chaim back in the starting line-up on one wing with Brandley Kuwas who scored his debut goal for Maccabi at Kiryat Shmona in support of Croatian striker Stipe Perica upfront.

First Half

Maccabi dominated the opening stages of the game passing the ball around trying to breach HJK’s defence. Despite enjoying the majority of the possession it took Maccabi until the 15th minute to create the first chance on goal which came from a corner. A short corner reached Enric Saborit whose initial shot was blocked before the rebound fell to Luis Hernandez before his effort also resulted in a corner.

Maccabi increased the pressure with Dan Glazer and Sheran Yeini blocking HJK’s attempts to cross the halfway line and Tal Ben Ben Chaim who tormented the Finns defence down the left flank. Maccabi were then awarded a series of corner that that didn’t result with an attempt on goal but in the 22nd minute the deadlock was finally broken as Brandley Kuwas and Gabi Kanichowsky exchanged passed only for the Curaçao international to beat Hugo Keto with an accurate low drive from the edge of the area that put Maccabi infront. Two minutes later, Yeini managed to block a shot by Lucas Lingman that rolled out for an HJK corner that Maccabi managed to clear.

Miro Tenho was the first player to go into the book of Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic as the tall HJK defender tripped Kuwas who charged forward through the middle in the 29th minute. Kuwas dusted himself up and curled the resuting free kick forcing Keto to push the ball out for a corner on the hour mark.

With HJK sitting back, Glazer tried threatening from long range but his effort on 41 sailed high over the crossbar.

Two minutes later Kanichowsky released Enric Saborit down the left flank before the Spaniard sent a square ball into the path of Yeini whose attempt of a flick couldn’t find a Maccabi player. Obrenovic’s halftime whistle sent both sets of players into the dressing rooms for a bit of regrouping ahead of the second half.

Second Half

With no changes after the interval, the second half began where the first one left off as Ben Chaim looking dangerous. The winger tried his luck with a right foot curler in the 50th minute that was deflected out for a corner.

Itzhaki made his first substitution in the 57th minute as Eylon Almog who ended his four match touchline ban in the league, came in for Ben Chaim.

HJK skipper Daniel O’Shaughnessy tried a long range powerful left foot effort that was equaled by Daniel Peretz in what appeared to be his first test on 61. A minute later at the opposite end Almog broke into the area and tried to go round the keeper but collided with Keto as the ball was cleared off the line. Maccabi did manage to double the score on 65 as Kuwas and Perica released a counter attack but as the square ball was directed at Almog, HJK’s Lingman slid in but rolled the ball into his own net to make it 2-0.

Itzhaki reacted instantly as Perica and Kanichowsky bowed out and were replaced by Osama Khalaila and Eyal Golasa.

Kuwas came close to increase Maccabi’s lead and score his second on the night but after exchanging passes with Geraldes he slotted his shot wide on 68. Itzhaki made his two final changes in the 77th minute as Ido Shahar replaced Glazer and Matan Hozez came in for Kuwas. 

While Maccabi’s fans were chanting ahead of Sunday’s Tel Aviv derby, Hozez curled a perfect left foot shot from distance that gave the keeper no chance and sealed the win at 3-0.

After numerous achievements with Maccabi, Sheran Yeini is far from stopping as tonight (Thursday) he reached a highly impressive personal landmark. The captain, who was named in the starting line-up for the Conference League home match against HJK Helsinki made his 500^th appearance for the club in all competitions. The 34-year-old captain made his 73^rd appearance for Maccabi in Europe to equal the club record set by Eytan Tibi.

Yeini’s numbers in the 500 appearances for Maccabi

The all-time appearance record:

Sheran Yeini’s 500^th appearance for Maccabi places him in 4^th spot of the all-time appearance list of players. Benny Tabak (505) is ranked 3^rd, Eli Driks (517) is 2^nd while Miko Belo (599) tops the list in 1^st place.

The debut:

Yeini made his debut appearance for Maccabi in the Toto Cup against Bnei Sachnin a week after his 18^th birthday on December 15^th 2004. Yeini was introduced in the 62^nd minute for Erez Mesika as Maccabi won the match 2-0.  

The debut goal:

Yeini’s debut goal for the club was a dramatic 92^nd minute winning goal that awarded Maccabi a 2-1 league victory over Bnei Yehuda on August 30^th 2008.

Watch Yeini recalls his debut goal

Goals and assists:

Yeini has so far scored 18 goals for Maccabi and was also responsible for 24 assists as 15 of the 18 goals were in the league. Eight of the goals were headers and 3 of the goals the captain scored arrived after the 90^th minute.

Titles:

During his time at the club, Yeini, won 14 titles: 5 League Championships, 2 State Cups, 5 Toto Cups and 2 Super Cups.

 

Positions:

Yeini is known as one of the versatile players Maccabi had, at least in the past two decades – which is a chance to show in what positions did he make them:

Midfielder: 199 appearances

Central Defender: 121 appearances

Right Back: 119 appearances

Left Back: 61 appearances

Yeini also made two more memorable appearances in goal after the two goalkeepers who began the match were sent off. Yeini took the goalkeepers jersey twice in his career as he replaced Liran Strauber against Hapoel Be’ersheva in 2011 and Juan Pablo Collinas against Maccabi Netanya in 2014.

 Of the 500 appearances Yeini made, he was named in the starting line-up on 433 times and made 67 appearances as a substitute.

 

The best round of an Israeli side

Maccabi’s first round in the Conference League group stage – 7 points from a possible 9 and a 10-2 goal tally, was the best round of the club or any Israeli side in a European group stage.

Twenty Maccabi players participated in three matches during the group stages. Four players were ever present as Daniel Peretz, Dan Glazer, Luis Hernandez and Andre Geraldes played 270 minutes so far.

Six players (Gabi Kanichowsky, Stipe Perica, Eden Shamir, Matan Hozez, Enric Saborit and Dan Biton) shared the 10 goals Maccabi scored. Kanichowsky is the leading goal-scorer with 3 goals (a brace against Helsinki and a goal against Alashkert).

Andre Geraldes and Dan Biton assisted in two goals each of the seven goals Maccabi scored.

The 10 goals Maccabi scored in the group stage so far, resulted from 40 shots on goal, 19 of which on target.

The 5-0 victory over HJK in Helsinki is Maccabi’s highest victory in 78 away matches in all European competitions.

What next?

According to the Conference League format, the team that finishes top of their group automatically go through to the last 16. An additional knockout round play-offs will then be played before the round of 16 between the eight group runners-up and the third ranked teams from the Europa League group stage.

Only once (Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Europa League group stages 2009/10) did an Israeli side finish top of their group.

Four Israeli sides finished their European group in the runners up spot with Maccabi doing so twice in the Europa League (2014 and 2021).

Two other Israeli sides that reached that achievement are Hapoel Be’ersheva in the Europa League (2017) and Maccabi Haifa in the UEFA Cup (2007).

   

       

Head of Maccabi’s Football Department, Barak Itzhaki, who will guide the team as interim coach against HJK Helsinki, said on the eve of the match: “We are focusing on the most important game for us which is the forthcoming match” Itzhaki opened the Press Conference. “We have a tough match, the previous match ended in a relatively high score but I expect this match to be different, totally different. They ended their season by winning their league title at the weekend so they will arrive with clear minds as we are expecting a very tough match”.

On the team’s start to the season, Itzhaki said: “Everyone has a part. We will sit and analyse where we made mistakes, no one is hiding. I will give my explanations to whoever I need to. There is no doubt that everyone has his share including myself”.

Itzhaki, who led Maccabi in his first match in charge to a 3-1 victory over Kiryat Shmona at the weekend, added: “I think we must restore the players’ confidence because we have a good team and group of talented good players. We managed to see that in several matches this season. It is important to restore the confidence and belief, and I am certain they will do so because I really believe in them”.

Answering a question on what he took from former coaches he worked under at Maccabi, Itzhaki replied: “It is no secret that we were coached by coaches who progressed to the top European leagues. I was fortunate to work under most of them and just like every player who thinks about the day after (playing) you want to take things for the future, and I did. I am happy that I worked with coaches of that level”.

On his personal feelings in the wake of his recent role as interim coach, Itzhaki revealed: “This is new to me, different pressure, totally different stress. It is not like sitting in the stands, even though some of you saw me in the stands and saw what I look like – energetic and living the game. I was just like that during my last years as a player, always lively during the game and pushing players to the edge. There is nothing new in this aspect, but when you are coaching a team and try to pass on your messages to the players it is totally different. I feel ok”.

When asked about his job description as the Head of the Football Department and how long he is expected to remain as interim coach, Itzhaki added: “The owner’s announcement at the start of the season was very clear. Ultimately, I am responsible for certain departments and this is what I do. I really hope that we will find a coach as soon as possible – this is our target. We are looking, working on it and whenever we have the intended name you will learn about from an official club statement”.

“We know that every match is tough, especially against HJK that finished their league campaign and won the championship at the weekend. Now they can focus on the only competition they have left and I am certain they will try make our lives difficult” Yeini said. “We must be prepared for a good and tough match”.

On the feeling amongst the players following the recent managerial changes, the 34-year-old captain answered: “To start with we have a good squad and the players reacted in a good way and showed a lot of character. We are not at a stage we must display outstanding performances but we must collect points and be consistent. There is no reason why this should not continue. We have good training sessions under Barak and I can recognise, as someone who played alongside him under several coaches that he picked some drills along the way. I really hope that we can continue in this direction”.