The Yellow & Blue captain Sheran Yeini is getting ready for Monday night’s Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv at the Netanya Stadium, 21:00 on Matchday 5 of the Israel Premier League, Ligat Japanika:

“A derby match has its own rules, it doesn’t matter what condition a team is in as both sides will be motivated and ready to go in order to win. It will be a tough match and we are preparing as best as we can.”

Maccabi winning game win the closing minutes:
“Football matches aren’t decided at the beginning of the game but at the end. Of course if you score at the start it’s easier but you still need to keep the result as is. I can’t guarantee anything in this game but we will do the best we can to win.”

Playing central defender:
“I played as a central defender for a year an a half under Moti Ivanir and I’m really enjoying playing this role in the group stages of the Europa League as well. I like to play this position but in general I just like to play and it doesn’t matter where. Wherever the team needs me, I’m happy to help.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach addressed the assembled media ahead of the Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Monday night (21:00) at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 5 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika:

“This won’t be an easy match as they scored the first goal last game. They have quality players on the attack and we are expecting a tough contest. We played a match just three days ago against Maccabi Haifa so it’s good that the game versus Hapoel will be on Monday as it will give is another day to prepare. I’m sure we will be ready, but again this is not an easy match. Perhaps the score was 4:1 from the last match but it doesn’t always tell the whole story.”

Comparison to the Thessaloniki Derby:
“It’s a tough match there as well and it was always interesting just like it will be here. There will be fans from both teams at the match while in Greece the only fans allowed in are the host’s. It’s a hard match and we are ready for that on Monday as well.”

Changes in the lineup:
“It all depends on the match and the players as well as how they are feeling. It’s normal that there will be changes when you have 3 matches in a week and we have enough players to do that. Sometimes it may look like a risk by some of the people but I do what I need to the best that I can. I know my team and what they can do and all of them can be in the Starting XI.”

More on the rotation:
“The rotation depends on the players, how many game we have and how the players work over the course of the week. If we have two quality players at a position that can both play well, then why not? There is sometimes a risk as it disrupts the continuity, but we try and think about different things. It’s clear to me. Whoever is best will play.”

The level of the league:
“There are many good clubs and quality players. It’s a long league and you never know what will be by the end of the season. Our goal is to give the best we can every single match and we work to win. We believe in ourselves and we are continuing to work hard.”

Injury status:
“There’s a little problem with Davidzada and he’s still out. He’s working hard it’s just a question of time until he returns. I’m not sure if he will be ready for Monday.”

Predrag Rajkovic, the Yellow & Blue keeper looked back at the Club’s Toto Cup, staying at Maccabi and Eliran Atar:

“I hope this is the first of three titles this season. We have to continue to play our way. We have a chance to take two more and if we can we want to take everything.”

The match:
“We kept the ball in the second half and didn’t panic. We deserved to win today.”

Changes from last season to this season:
“We had a lot of changes and we are a younger team than last season. We played well and like a team as we also did last season but we know each other better and we’ve improved a lot.”

Staying or going over the summer:
“You never know what is going to happen and I didn’t know if I was going to stay or go this summer. But I was prepared to stay no matter what because I’d be happy to play for Maccabi until the end of my contract.”

Continuing at Maccabi:
“In football and in life you never know what will happen. But I have a good connection with the staff from Serbia and they wanted to keep me in the team. If we can keep up as we have done up until now I’m sure it will be great.”

Eliran Atar:
“Coach Ivic has given him a lot of chances and he has shown us what he knows. He has helped us a lot and he has helped the team. We’re happy to have him.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach summed up his club’s 2:1 Toto Cup victory over Maccabi Haifa to win the Toto Cup:

“After the victory and the trophy it’s a nice moment for us. We deserved to win the title and we played better than our opponent in the second half as they waited for a counter attack. We were a team that had ball possession and we tried to attack with an organized game plan. We had a few chances that we created and we scored. That was our plan and how we wanted to play. We don’t have a lot of time to celebrate because we have the next game against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Monday.”

Strategy:
“For this kind of game you need to have a strategy as you have five substitutions in the Toto Cup and this is something that you have to prepare for. We knew we would use some of these players in the second half. We had already played Haifa in the league which was right after a European game and that match they had more power. We looked better in that game in the second half as well. Normally a team that has more time to rest is fresh. We used this strategy and we won.”

Eliran Atar’s Toto Cup Winner:
“Eliran Atar has scored a lot of goals and is an important player for us. He gives us quality in front and is very important for the team.”