Eyal Golasa, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s veteran midfielder looked ahead to the club’s Matchday 4 encounter at Maccabi Netanya on Saturday night, 20:30 at the Netanya Stadium as he spoke about the teams preparations:

“We are preparing well and we expect a tough game on Saturday. Netanya is always a hard matchup, but we know how to get ready for them.”

Competing for a place in the Starting XI:
“It’s a great thing that there is competition and it brings out the best in us as we fight for a spot in the starting XI.”

Changes at Netanya”:
“Netanya is going through some changes and even when they were without Eran Levy and Dia Saba last season they were a good team. They are always competitive no matter who is playing for them.”

Training sessions:
“The pace of our training sessions is excellent and the staff is always looking for us to push harder. I’m happy that we have been training well and I hope we can continue this way.”

New things at training:
“The training sessions have new and different things that we are learning as the midfielders are always looking to improve and so far we are feeling good.”

Players who have returned from loan:
“The players who returned from loan have been playing and adapting well. Glazer and Barsky have been terrific and it adds a lot to the team especially when there are injuries.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue boss addressed the assembled media prior to Saturday night’s (20:30) Matchday 4 contest at Maccabi Netanya:

“I am just thinking about the next game and our games and I am not focussing on the national team games. We are playing Netanya on Saturday, the Toto Cup on Wednesday and the Derby the next Monday and we have 22 players that are ready. I’m happy we have a lot of games to play ahead of us.”

Injury status of Enric Saborit and Jair Amador:
“Saborit’s had a muscle injury but he is ready and we can use him. He will train the next two days and we will follow his progress. Jair had a shoulder injury and I think he could have played last match but just before the game he felt strange and we didn’t want to take a chance. We can use him.”

Being prepared:
“We prepare for every game and we have the same goal which is to take 3 points. We must fight, concentrate and be ready to improve and to take responsibility during the games and have possession in order to win the game. Netanya has played well over the past couple of seasons and even though they changed some players, they are still a good team and we have to be prepared from the first to the last second of the game.”

Not signing a striker just before the transfer window closed:
“We didn’t move for the striker because I am someone who likes to make a move for someone who can help us. If there aren’t any players that can, then it’s better that we stay with the squad we have and we will continue to work with them.”

Improving game to game:
“We are still at the beginning of the season and this is only our 4th league game. Some of the teams who didn’t play in European qualification matches still need time to improve. We work hard every day and our goal is to play better from game to game and fix the mistakes we had in past games.”

Competition to be in the Starting XI:
“We will have the State Cup tournament at the end of the year and it’s good for me that there are players who can compete for each position. There are 21-22 players and they have to work hard, fight and concentrate in order for them to play. This is what I asked from them at the start of the preseason.”

Being in Israel for the High Holidays:
“It’s interesting and nice. Each religion offers something new. You have a lot of interesting holidays and I tried to understand them.”

About Matan Hozez:
“Matan Hozez signed a new contract with us a few weeks ago and it was our decision to do so. He is a quality player and there are a number of good players at his position. If he continues to work and show the good attitude that he has been, then I am sure he will play. You need time to give everyone a chance and I am happy with him as he works extra everyday and tries to improve himself. He is the future of Maccabi.”

Players must show they deserve to play:
“Every one is a Maccabi player and no one has a contract that says they need to be in the Starting XI. They must fight and show they deserve to play. If someone tries to make a problem then they will be out.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Hapoel Hadera as 21-year-old midfielder Eliel Peretz joined the newly promoted side on a season long loan.

Peretz, a product of Maccabi’s youth department, made his senior debut for Maccabi in a State Cup match against Hapoel Kfar Sava back in March 2016. Last season Peretz scored a goal in 25 appearances in all competitions during a season long loan spell at Bnei Yehuda.

Maccabi CEO Ben Mansford told the clubs’ official website: “Eilel is a young player with natural talent and the potential to play at the highest level. After a frustrating last season and a strong pre-season, we feel it is right for him to play regularly.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Maccabi Netanya on Saturday night (20:30) September 22nd on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. Tickets are on sale for Season Ticket Holders via the Leaan Ticket Agency Website, telephone *8780 and the Leaan Ticket Office located at Frishman 42, Tel Aviv.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday September 20th at 12:00.

Maccabi fans will be sitting in the Upper West Sections 201-204 and Lower West Sections 101-104 unreserved seating.

Please Note: This match is part of the Points Allocation System and season ticket holders will receive 2 points for this contest while non-season ticket holders will receive 1 point. Make sure that when tickets are purchased via the Leaan Website, telephone or Leaan Ticket Office the season ticket number is used in order to receive full points. Should the purchase not be done by using the season ticket number points will not be allocated.

Should a ticket be purchased and the fan doesn’t attend the match, there will be no refunds and no points will be allocated.

Ticket prices
Leaan Ticket Office:
Child/Youth/Soldier/Women: 44 NIS
Adult: 88 NIS
Silver Section: 165 NIS

Telephone/Website:
Child/Youth/Soldier/Women: 49 NIS
Adult: 93 NIS
Silver Section: 170 NIS

Ticket Collection
Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office located at 101 Dizengoff Street between Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30.
Tickets may be collected on Matchday at the Stadium ticket windows beginning 3 hours prior to the match

The Maccabi Tel Aviv players received casual wear from the club’s official fashion designer, the BOSS brand today, Sunday.

The collection for the club was specifically selected as it’s adapted for Israel’s climate as part of a young and fashionable line. The color chosen was navy blue and includes slim fit t-shirts, polo shirts and chino pants that are characterized by their narrow fit along with white sneakers that are perfect for the latest fashions. The players also received a custom made sport jacket together with sweaters and sweatshirts.

The BOSS brand is the official fashion designer for Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Juventus and the German National Team.

Maccabi Tel Aviv partnered with BOSS through FACTORY 54 which is owned by the Irani family and is the sole importer of the prestigious fashion brand in Israel.

Following his side’s 4:1 victory over Hapoel Raanana, Shahar Piven, the Yellow & Blue central defender spoke about a myriad of topics from how to pronounce his last name, being mentally strong, the coach’s belief in the players on the squad as well as having the opportunity to play:

“There were many games including National Team games, so the coach had no problem giving the younger players who have come back from loan the stage to perform. I’m happy to have had the chance and I hope to make a mark on the pitch.”

Playing well and being mentally strong:
“We played well today but it’s still the beginning of the league. We are a strong and quality team with a young squad along with many veterans who help us out a lot. Everyone makes mistakes as I did in the Beer Sheva match, but the most important thing is to continue on and play well and be mentally strong on the pitch. I had a good second half and we’re just at the start of our way.”

About the coach’s belief in the players on the squad:
“I’ve been doing what I’ve done my whole career which is to train hard and there are things that aren’t in my control including what is written in the press. The coach wouldn’t keep players if he didn’t believe in them and he believes in each player who is in the squad. Every match he puts in the best Starting XI.”

Improving:
“This is the profession that I’ve chosen. When I was in the second division I always wanted to play with lots of fans and pressure as that improves us as players and it makes us better.”

How to pronounce his last name:
“It’s Piven.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv scored 4 goals this evening and Dor Micha put his stamp on a pair of them as he picked up superb assists on Itay Shechter’s strike as well as one of Eliran Atar’s goals. The midfielder summed up the win over Hapoel Raanana:

“Over the seasons I’ve had plenty of good passes, but many of the balls didn’t make their way into the back of the goal, so it’s important that my teammates know how to finish and I’m very happy with today’s performance. Before the break we played good football and we’re playing well. We scored an early goal and that’s important as well. The game then opened up and that’s what made our lives easier today.”

About the squad:
“We of course believe in ourselves and that’s in our DNA. We have a deep squad with plenty of quality and there is tremendous potential here. This is perhaps the best said that we’ve had here over the past number of years. If we can take advantage of this potential then I believe we can take it all.”