Sheran Yeini, the Yellow & Blue captain was all smiles following the 1:0 win over Maccabi Haifa that helped win the championship:

“It’s great to win for the club again and we won the championship for the first time at the Netanya Stadium which is also terrific.” 

Winning the championship:
“I didn’t really care who we would have won the title against. The most important thing was to win the championship.”

About Ivic:
“He has a path and methodology. He made us play responsible football both on the attack and defense. He’s very organized and has us all battling. We all wanted to win the title and it’s also great that some of the younger players were also an integral part of this championship.”

More goals ahead:
“I am happy we won and I’m proud. On Wednesday we already have the State Cup semifinal against a super tough team in Bnei Yehuda.”

A trio of Macccabi Tel Aviv players, Itay Shechter, Dan Glezer and Ruslan Barsky all spoke about the league title and the remaining goals ahead:

Itay Shechter, the Maccabi Tel Aviv striker spoke about the championship following the 1:0 win over Maccabi Haifa:
“There’s no question that this was the most dominant championship in Israeli football and this was due to the strength of the club. We are all satisfied and this was the second championship of my career. This was a super important title, but we still have another important goal ahead of ourselves with the State Cup. We are happy right now, but we have to save the big celebrations for later as we are now on a mission to win the State Cup. We have a great staff from the coaches to the kitmen who have all made it possible and also deserve the championship.”

The moment when he knew that the team could take the championship:
“There were a few moments when we felt that we could win the title and one of them was when we were eliminated from Europe. We were sitting in the dressing room and I looked at everyone in the eyes that we had a mission to go on. We then played Hapoel Beer Sheva at Turner Stadium and we went down 1:0 in the 20’ and I saw players who were hungry and didn’t want to let up. At that moment I saw a super strong team and I knew that we could go and win the title.”

Winning at home:
“It’s great satisfaction to celebrate the win in front of our home crowd at a packed stadium and be able to share the joy with everyone.”

Dan Glezer also commented on winning the title:
“This was my first title and two years ago when I was at Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle we spoke about our dream to return to Maccabi and win the Championship. I am so happy and it’s just true satisfaction.”

Fighting for minutes:
“Everyone gave us a great feeling when we returned from loan, from the staff to the players. We came together and they all gave us confidence from the coach to Ben Mansford that we will battle for minutes just like any other player and the competition would be fair. I’m happy we proved that we deserved to play and that this will be the case for years to come.”

Battling for a place in the squad:
“All of the players know that if they don’t play well they will be out of the squad and the rotation. Every players fights for himself and the club. No one can take their foot off of the gas.”

Is the season over with 8 matches left?
“There won’t be a feeling that the season is over just because we won the league championship.”

Ruslan Barsky also spoke about the Championship:
“It’s a great feeling. Last season I won the State Cup with Hapoel Haifa and now it continued with the Toto Cup and the Championship, but we still want to continue this amazing season. We still have a huge goal in front of us which is the State Cup.”

Coach Ivic showing confidence in the players:
“I felt that feeling from the coach when we were at training camp. If you train well you really feel that you will have a chance to play. He gives us all confidence that we will play and he did that from day one.”

Never taking your foot off of the gas:
“He gives you the feeling that you want to give it all every single training session; to give 100% every match. He never gives you the chance to take your foot off the gas.”

Goals ahead:
“I think that it’s very realistic to think about the Champions League especially after this season. But it’s very early as we still have to finish the season and there is still the State Cup in front of us. Only after that will we begin thinking about next season.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach summed up his feelings after winning his first league title as a coach while complimenting his players after the 1:0 win over Maccabi Haifa:

“It’s amazing. We did a good job until now and we took the championship by the end of March The players deserve the compliments.”

First championship as a coach:
“It’s my first championship and we spent a lot of time over the last 8 months. Now it’s time to celebrate with our fans who have waited for this for 4 years. I told my players that 4 years is a long time.”

Compliments:
“My compliments for the players, they are responsible more than all of us. They all work a lot including the staff, medical staff, kitman, bus driver and the office staff. Barak Itzhaki and our CEO Ben Mansford as well as Jack Angelides and of course our owner Mitch Goldhar who have a big part in this championship.”

The State Cup:
“We spoke a lot about what we wanted to achieve this year and we have another goal, the State Cup. It’s amazing that this is the fastest title in Israel league history.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 1:0 to win their 23rd League Championship. Aron Schoenfeld scored the lone goal of the match in the second half off an Omer Atzili corner to take the 3 points and wrap up the title. The Yellow & Blue will now prepare for the State Cup semifinal against Bnei Yehuda on Wednesday night, at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem at 20:45.

Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Maor Kandil, Sheran Yeini, Jair Amador, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Dan Glezer, Ruslan Barsky, Omer Atzili, Eliran Atar, Aron Schoenfeld.

Available on the bench: Daniel Tenebaum, Eli Dasa, Itay Shechter, Eitan Tibi, Yonatan Cohen, Ophir Davidzada, Shahar Piven.

First Half
The match began in driving rain as both sides played tentatively for the first ten minutes. Neta Lavi had the first chance for Haifa in the 12’ but Rajikovic made the stop while 8 minutes later Atzili’s 18 meter blast missed the target.

Peretz and Barsky each had chances in the 26’ and 28’ but couldn’t put their shots on goal and then Barsky received a yellow card in the 29’. Atar’s 31’ opportunity was parried by Greens keeper Guy Haimov and in the 39’ Saborit’s attempt was caught by the shot stopper as the sides went into the break goalless.

Second Half
Maccabi found the first goal of the contest in the 55’ when Atizli’s corner was sent into the goal off of Schoenfeld’s shoulder as the Yellow & Blue took a 1:0 lead. Atar almost doubled the lead but Haimov made the stop in the 60’ and five minutes later Shahar Piven came on for Atzili.

Yonatan Cohen entered the match in the 75’ in favor of Atar and 3 minutes later Schoenfeld’s chance went out. Yarden Shua almost drew Haifa even but his attempt missed the target in the 81’ while Cohen’s opportunity for Maccabi four minutes later went out. Itay Shechter came on in the 87’ for the goal scorer Schoenfeld as the Yellow & Blue took the win and their 23rd League Championship.

Sheran Yeini, the Maccabi Tel Aviv captain is looking forward to Saturday night’s (21:00) Championship Playoff clash at home against Maccabi Haifa on Martchday 28 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika

“We work every season for this type of moment, we have a tough match against an opponent that will play hard and is challenging. They will produce opportunities and hopefully fulfill what’s expected of us.”

Celebrations:
“Maccabi Tel Aviv is an organized club and those who make the decisions do so with thought and purpose. We the players have to make sure we come and give our best performance.”

Possibly winning the title against Maccabi Haifa:
“You have to work hard all season long to win the championship. The last match is always the sweetest especially when you are battling against a club head-to-head and then it goes to the last game where the title is decided. Similar to the State Cup Final. Most of the time this doesn’t happen and you have already celebrated against another club. But that’s part of sports. What’s most important to me is to just win the title.”

The fans who are thirsting for a title:
“We all want to win the title and at the moment of truth it doesn’t matter when or against who. The most important thing is to win titles.”

About the match:
“Haifa is in great shape and they have made some changes. They are dangerous and we will have to be focused throughout the 90 minutes and we have been waiting for a match like this. It’s fun to be challenged and to see what level we can bring ourselves to.”