Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach spoke ahead of Monday night’s contest in the capital city against Beitar Jerusalem at 21:00. He looked at the Toto Cup win, showing passion and Beitar:

“It’s always a special match as they are a team with passion and difficult to play against. Our recent history has been tough and we’ve had trouble with them. We have to put aside the Toto Cup and we have to bring aggressiveness and passion to the game just as Beitar always have. We have to win and take the points.”

About Beitar Jerusalem:
“We have suffered a lot against them in the league and they are a tough team for us to play especially when you play open football. It’s as if you’re going into a candy shop. You have to be organized.”

Characteristics of championship teams:
“If you have any ambition to win the title, you can’t lose the points that we have lost. In some games we deserved it, in others we had them in our hands and we lost them. A championship team can’t do that.”

About Dor Peretz:
“As each game needs different necessities we will have to plan accordingly. He works hard every single day and is improving a lot.”

Respect for Beitar:
“Tomorrow’s match deserves not 100% but 200% focus and if we look at anything else it’s disrespecting the opponent and they deserve our respect.”

Showing passion:
“It’s a crucial match for us especially that they showed they have the passion and it’s unacceptable not to show it in any other match. If you want to be winners, you have to show it game after game. We need the points and want the points. It’s a question of character.”

Changing the system on the pitch:
“I don’t think we have played one clear system the last few games. Some players don’t have the characteristics of being a wingback for example. We had to show a fighting spirit and that’s why some players appeared. Clean sheets bring points and right now we are organizing and stabilizing and then take a step forward in the attacking sense.”

Cristian Battocchio not playing recently but celebrating after the Toto Cup win on the pitch:
“There is a large group of players and we have other players in the midfield that are playing well and we over used him a lot. He played many games and there are other players in his position that are playing well. He played well in the #6 which is not his strongest position, but it’s a good sign of team work that even if some players have played less recently they celebrate with the team.”

Set pieces:
“We have conceded less from set pieces but we have to improve in that area.”

Final thoughts about the Toto Cup and going forward in the league:
“The Club needed it and the players needed it, but now we have to turn our attention to the league.”

Yuval Shpungin, the Yellow & Blue defender is preparing for his side’s Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al Matchday 14 contest at Beitar Jerusalem:

“We always have a tough time against them and we come into the match ready to play.”

Recent style of play:
“There isn’t a set formation and I could be part central defender and part wingback. It all depends on the style of the game.”

Creating chances to score:
“There has been a good changes over the last few matches and the Toto Cup Final was a good match against a tough rival in Beer Sheva. We have to bring the same passion to the league.”

Defending quick wingers like Itay Shechter:
“Every defense has a tough time against players like Shechter. We are working on how to play defense properly against them and not give a player like him any space.”

Celebrating the Toto Cup:
“We have to move on and disconnect from the difficulties we’ve had. When you win a title you should be happy and celebrate.”

Looking back and looking ahead:
“We have plenty of attacking players and we had many chances against Beer Sheva but right now our sole focus is to win the match versus Beitar.”

Ofir Davidzada, the Yellow & Blue left back took home his first title at Maccabi Tel Aviv with a 1:0 win over Hapoel Beer Sheva in the Toto Cup Final and discussed the match that was:

Winning against Hapoel Beer Sheva:
“Firstly, we’re very excited about winning the Toto Cup and this Cup is for the fans who wanted the title after a couple of seasons without it. So we’re happy both for the fans and for us.”

Jumping on Jordi following the match:
“There’s no question that he deserves this as he was with us during this very difficult time. No one knows what happens behind the scenes and besides being a coach he is also a person who has been behind is and supported us no matter what was going on. I’m happy that we were able to pay him back on the pitch.”

The last two matches:
“During the last two matches, against Villarreal and Maccabi Petah Tikva we were unlucky as we missed many chances, I believe that slowly but surely we are beginning to jell together and we are learning the style of play. I believe that we’ll begin to look much better.”

Plenty of points left:
“We just finished the first round which means we have another round plus the payoff matches to go. So there are still plenty of points left. It’s not too late.”

After the last match against Beer Sheva in which Maccabi was unable to beat them with ten men, how much does this win help the club and could it put Maccabi back into the title fight:
“There’s no question that this win will give us confidence and is important as we continue the season. Beer Sheva is an excellent club and we proved that we can battle them toe to toe anytime and even win; it’s very important for us.”

Monday’s important match at Teddy:
“We’ll celebrate the Cup win today and tomorrow we will begin to get busy for the next match which is very important.”

The last pass:
“We work on these things in our training session. We had a lot of opportunities. I personally am working on this specific issue and I’ll see improvement in this area.”

Dealing with pressure from when he was a Beer Sheva Player:
“There is pressure for any club that wants to win a title and that’s healthy. Someone that can’t handle the pressure isn’t fit to play at this level. I personally love the pressure and it’s a good character trait.”

Playing with 3 central defenders:
“For right now we see that this system is working both from the defensive and offensive ends. I believe that if we continue working on this formation it will look better and better.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Icelandic striker got back on track, scoring the winning goal of the Toto Cup Final in the 83’ as he headed in the ball off a Jose Rodriguez cross:

Head Coach Jordi Cruyff addressed the media following Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Toto Cup victory at the Netanya Stadium thanks to a Vidar Kjartansson header in the 83’ to capture the trophy:

“I’m not a guy that likes to celebrates too much. I’m happy for the staff and players, they got a prize for their effort they put into the game. The fans had a happy moment after a long time. It’s medicine for one day and we still have a disadvantage in the league.”

Wanting to win:
“There’s always more adrenaline in a game like this because the players want to win, there was a lot of pride. The 2:1 loss that we suffered in the league against Beer Sheva was in the back of their minds and it was an unacceptable loss. They knew that if they played relaxed against Beer Sheva they could be deadly. We played with intensity the full game.”

Busy schedules for both teams:
“We both had crazy schedules this season and both Maccabi and Beer Sheva played more than every other team in Europe. Both teams had injuries and there were players looking at the bench a few times tonight.”

Disappointment:
“We’ve lost 3 Finals in a row. The Super Cup and two State Cups and it was time to show that Maccabi could stand up. I’ve always felt support here. The bench is always the hot seat and it’s inherent in the job. I understand the disappointment. At the end it doesn’t matter if you don’t take enough points everyone is disappointed. The players, staff and the owner. I don’t like it but I have to accept it. If I was a fan I may complain as well.”

Killing the game:
“The last few games we haven’t been able to to train. In a way yes but you can’t define our system. I believe in passion and discipline on the field. We shoot a lot, pass a lot but we don’t kill the games. We should have finished the game much earlier.”

Confidence:
“I think it will give confidence to the players and it’s a signal to the players what you can do if you play with intensity and toughness. If you don’t show enough effort you won’t win the games. Beer Sheva have been able to win games late and that is something that we had 3-4 years ago. I’m happy with the effort and the players have to understand that they have to give 200%.”

Vidar not starting the last few matches:
“In Spain we wanted players with more vertical and speed and it worked well with Aaron Schoenfeld and Nick Blackman in Villarreal. We felt that they deserved continuity and they played against Petah Tikva. We felt we were playing well and we felt it was the right time for him to come on. When you put the effort the prize comes.”

Players:
“Melikson was never an option for us as he had to go there. Nwakaeme was offers to us but we had winger Tal Ben Chaim. He’s an amazing player and grown into one of the top players of this league. Ben Chaim scored more than ten goals each year, had great speed and we sold him. He had a great career with us. Give them the credit, they have a stadium we don’t and they don’t lose at home. We lost Zahavi and he is the best Israeli player. He was a killer.”

About Maharan Radi:
“I like Radi and he’s a great person. Sometimes football brings these things and he wanted to play every week. They offered him a good contract sometimes you let it go.”