Sheran Yeini, the Yellow & Blue captain looked ahead to the Toto Cup Final clash against Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday night at the Moshava Stadium in Petah Tikva at 20:45:

“Maccabi Haifa is still a big club and it’s always hard to play against them. They have some pressure on them but they will continue to straighten things out. We respect the club and their players. This will be a good game.”

Focusing on the task at hand:
“I enjoy playing against any club and that’s what I do when I go to the stadium. I want to enjoy every minute that I’m on the pitch. We’re not looking at the Derby and we are just concentrating on the upcoming game which is Wednesday’s Toto Cup Final.”

Earning his place to play:
“I am excited to play any game whether it’s a team from the bottom of the league or the top of the league. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m happy to get on the pitch. I waited for my chance after missing trainging camp due to a personal issue and I’m aware that any player’s standing in football is just as good as you were in your last match.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach addressed the assembled press ahead of Wednesday night’s Toto Cup Final against Maccabi Haifa at the Moshava Stadium:

“This is a final of two big clubs and there are no favorites. Haifa is one of the biggest clubs and we respect them. We have to give more than 100% to win this game as it’s a final and totally different than a league game. We believe in ourselves.”

Game by game:
“We are just at the beginning of the league and there are many games left. I’m happy to take points and our target is to win every game while our goal is to prepare for the next game. We want to work hard and improve game by game. After the Toto Cup Final we will continue concentrate on the Derby.”

First league match was a 2:0 win over Haifa:
“We played the first game in the championship against Haifa and we beat them 2:0, but it was a very tough game. We have to play to win the trophy.”

Importance of the title:
“It’s important to begin the year with a title. It’s important for the whole club from the players, the staff and the fans.”

The European Week of Sport will take place between September 23-30. As a member of the ECA, the European Club Association, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is happy to be part of the event which aims to promote physical activity, encourage everyone to be more active – #BeActive on a regular basis and create opportunities in peoples’ everyday lives to exercise more.

Participation in sport and physical activity is stagnating, and in some European countries it’s even declining. It’s not just people’s health and well-being that suffers; it’s our society and economy as a whole. Increased spending on health care, a loss of productivity in the workplace and reduced employability are just a few of the negative knock-on effects.

The European Sports Week focuses on a number of areas: education, environment, workplace, sports clubs and fitness centers. These are the central places where people can change their habits – and be active!

Dan Glazer, the Yellow & Blue midfielder looked back at Maccabi’s 2:1 victory over Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League as well how his role has changed within the squad:

“We didn’t begin the second half well, but we didn’t allow Netanya a chance other then when they scored off the corner even though they controlled the pace of play. Even in matches where we don’t play our best it’s crucial for us to take the points and continue on our way.”

His role in the squad:
“I feel like it’s a dream. The last couple of months have really helped changed my role with the squad and it’s great. But the hard work will be to continue the way we have begun the season.”

The championship:
“I can’t talk about talk about the championship now, we’ll have to wait for May to do that. But what I can tell you is that this was a very important win and a huge 3 points that will push us forward.”

Places on the squad:
“The competition is not just the Starting XI but the squad in general. If you see our training sessions you would know how much each one of us puts into it and how much effort is put in by each and everyone of us. This is a healthy competition and every one is happy to work for the ultimate goal together. It’s good that we have a quality and deep squad as everyone will be needed whether they are playing more or less now.”

Toto Cup Final on Wednesday:
“One of our goals is to keep the Toto Cup title and I hope we will. After Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday we can look ahead to the Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv.”

Eli Dasa, the Maccabi Tel Aviv defender spoke about his 81’ match winner in a 2:1 victory over Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League and looked back at the goal that handed the Yellow & Blue the 3 points:

“It’s not really important if I tried to score or not and it doesn’t matter how the ball went in, the most important thing is that we won the match.”

About the match that was:
“Netanya is one of the toughest opponents in the league and they play quality football. They played us very well and tough but thankfully we were able to take the win.”

Winning late in the game:
“Last season we also had these types of matches where we won, but now it’s this is year and it’s only Matchday 4. It’s a long season and we have to take it game by game.”

8 point lead over Hapoel Beer Sheva:
“I don’t think we have to look at Hapoel Beer Sheva. We have to concentrate on ourselves and continue to work hard.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach was content to take the win and the 3 points over a tough Maccabi Netanya squad on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League:

“It’s our first away win this season and it’s not good that it’s our first because we want to win every match. But it’s our first one and I hope that this will continue.”

The second half:
“We didn’t play well in the 2nd half and the way we wanted to. We will have to improve. They had one or two chances after their set pieces and that was a problem. We must work hard to improve, try to play how we want to, play stronger and have more ball possession to create more chances.”

Quality of players on the bench:
“We have a lot of players who can be in the Starting XI depending on our opponents. We have a game in a few days and some of the players that didn’t start tonight will play in that game.”

The gap between Maccabi and Beer Sheva:
“It means nothing. I try to concentrate on my team, how we play and what we want to do on the pitch.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Netanya 2:1 on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. Itay Shechter gave the Yellow & Blue a first half lead, but the host’s drew even early on in the second half thanks to a David Tiram header. However, an off balanced sharp angled shot by Eli Dasa from the right side in the 81’ made its way past a baffled Dani Amos to give Maccabi the 3 points and the win. On Wednesday Maccabi will face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final at the Moshava Stadium while on Monday October 1st the Yellow & Blue will host the Reds in the Tel Aviv Derby.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Shachar Piven, Sheran Yeini, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Micha, Eyal Golasa, Dan Glazer, Ruslan Barsky, Itay Shechter, Eliran Atar.

Available on the bench were Haviv Ohayon, Avi Rikan, Enric Saborit, Jair Amador, Omer Atzily, Chico Ofoedu, Dor Peretz.

First Half
Davidzada and Vicki Kahlon picked up yellow cards in the first five minutes while Aviv Avraham’s one on one chance on Rajkovic was cleared at the last second by Dasa. Piven was issued a yellow card in the 14’ while four minutes later Micha sent a classic through ball to Shechter but his attempt went off a defender.

In the 21’ Guy Melamed’s long distance chance went over the goal and 3 minutes later Maccabi picked off an errant ball by Amos, but Atar’s share angled shot from the left side went off the side netting of the goal. The Yellow & Blue took a 1:0 lead in the 27’ as Yeini’s brilliant pass from the midfield found Shechter who easily beat his defender and slotted the ball into the back of the goal.

Micha sent a nice ball to Atar in the 32’ but his bicycle kick attempt missed the target while three minutes later Golasa’s shot from 20 meters went over the bar. Shechter was handed a yellow card in the 40’ as the half ended with Maccabi holding a 1:0 lead.

Second Half
Jair Amador was introduced in place of Davidzada and Maccabi moved to 3 central defenders as Micha dropped back to the left. In the 50’ a short corner by Netanya to Niclas Elsek resulted in a goal as he lofted a ball into the box and David Tiram headed it behind Rajkovic to draw even at 1:1.

In the 56’ Netanya threatened Rajkovic’s goal again as Gabriel Kanikowsky’s chance was blocked by by Glazer who sent the ball out for a corner. In the 64’ Chico Ofoedu came on for Atar as Ivic made his 2nd substitute looking to freshen up the offense while Ofoedu then had a quick chance but his attempt went out.

Micha went by a number of defenders but was pulled down in the 70’ by Dudu Twitto who received a yellow card for his efforts, but Barsky’s free kick from the top of the box went over the goal. Five minutes later, Omer Atzily was introduced for the aforementioned Barsky as Ivic made his 3rd substitution of the match.

Then out of nowhere Dasa takes a sharp angled shot from the right side that somehow finds its way behind Amos to give Maccabi a 2:1 lead in the 81’ as the Yellow & Blue wrapped up the win and took home the 3 points. On Wednesday Maccabi will face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final at the Moshava Stadium while on Monday October 1st the Yellow & Blue will host the Reds in the Tel Aviv Derby.