Lito Vidigal, the Yellow & Blue’s new Head Coach looked back at his debut on Matchday 23 of the Ligat Ha’Al after his side defeated Kiryat Shemona 3:0 thanks to a hattrick by Icelander Vidar Kjaratansson. The Angolan spoke about Kjartansson, challenges ahead and the match that was:

“We didn’t change the lineup up much because we only had a few days to work. We tried to change some small things and a bit of the way we think and the players had a good game. Our supporters were here and they filled up the stadium and pushed the team. It was very important and we took the 3-points.”

The Yellow & Blue fans:

“I have coached and played in front of big clubs before, but it was amazing. The fans and the players deserved the victory and they enjoyed the win. We may have won 3:0 but we have room to improve as we made some mistakes.”

It’s all for Maccabi:

“I don’t know. I think that we are a team and we have to work together. All we want to do is fight and win the end game. We are not thinking about ourselves but about the team and about Maccabi. It’s all for Maccabi.”

Focusing on the next game:

“The game is now finished and we have to start working on the next game. We won and it’s good for us and the supporters who helped us a lot today but now it’s time to begin to work for the next one.”

Mistakes in the match:

“We lost many balls in the last thirty meters and if we had played better in the first half then we could have scored earlier goals. We have to work on this and maybe we would have a chance to score more goals.”

Working for one cause:

“This is football and it’s my life. Sometimes we win and I won’t use the other word. We all have to work for one cause which is now Maccabi. This is what is most important. If we do this we will have a chance to do big things.”

Challenge in coming to Maccabi:

“I have a big challenge here and Maccabi is a big club. I always choose big challenges to do. I was with a small team and we did amazing things taking a small club to Europe. In Israel, Maccabi is the biggest club and we want to do big things.”

Differences between Portuguese and Israeli football:

“There are some big differences but football is universal. Today we had a full stadium and we enjoyed it as the fans helped the players. We had an amazing football game. The most important thing is connecting with everyone.”

Jordi’s instructions:

“He told me to work hard and improve our football. To make the players better and better and go from game to game. If the players continue like they did today and fight like they did, then maybe we will have some big things at the end.”

About Vidar Kjartansson:

“He scored three goals today but I kept pushing him to score more. When he had two I wanted him to score three. Next game I want him to score four.”

Vidar Kjartansson found the back of the goal three times to give Maccabi Tel Aviv a big 3:0 win over Kiryat Shemona on Matchday 23 of the Ligat Ha’Al. The Icelander’s first strike came during first half injury time while the other two came in the second half to cut Hapoel Beer Sheva’s lead to just two points.

Prematch
New Head Coach Lito Vidigal named his first Starting XI and it included Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic along with a defensive quartet of Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Tal Ben Haim and Captain Sheran Yeini. Gal Alberman was in the defensive midfielder position along with Ruben Micael and Dor Micha by his side as Barak Itzhaki, Tal Ben Chaim and Vidar Kjartansson provided the attack.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Lifshitz, Ramon Roma, Marcelo dos Santos, Oscar Scarione, Eliel Peretz, Omri Ben Harush and Yossi Benayoun.

First Half
Maccabi came out strong in Vidigal’s debut and in the 4th minute Micha and Itzhaki exchanged passes but the latter’s attempt went across the goal mouth and out. Tibi’s header off a Ben Chaim corner kick hit the bar in the 13th minute while 6 minutes later Dasa’s amazing effort was caught by the Kiryat Shemona keeper Itamar Nitzan as the match remained goalless.

As the contest hit the 25th minute, Micha sent Itzhaki a ball from the left side that number ten almost put behind the keeper with a half bicycle kick but Nitzan again came up big with the save. Immediately afterwards, Ben Haim was then issued the match’s first yellow card for a dangerous play.

As play began to slow down, Maccabi had a brilliant chance in the 40th minute as Itzhaki sent Kjartansson a beauty of a ball but he missed it as the play ended with the Yellow & Blue coming up empty. However, as the match headed into first half injury time, Kjartansson took the ball, got by his defender and chipped it by a helpless Nitzan to give Maccabi a 1:0 lead as the contest hit the break.

Second Half
Following some midfield play by both sides, Kiryat Shemona made the first substitute of the evening in the 62nd minute as Shoval Gozlan entered the contest in favor of Ofir Kriaf. Three minute later, Maccabi had control of the ball in the box but couldn’t find a decent shot as it went off of Kjartansson and out.

But what would you know, the next time the Icelander would touch the ball it would be to tap it into the goal after a masterful assist by Eli Dasa who took a brilliant ball from Micha seconds earlier to give the Yellow & Blue a 2:0 advantage in the 66th minute. A brace by Kjaratansson as Maccabi looked to add yet another goal.

Kiryat Shemona made their second substitute as Eden Shamir came in for Abed and Azulay then had a chance to help his side get back into the match but Rajikovic was in the right place to make the save. Coach Vidigal then made his first substitute of the evening taking off Itzhaki for Eliel Peretz in the 74th minute while the visitors made their third and final move of the night bringing on Amor Nasar for Brosso. Yeini then picked up a yellow card for a reckless tackle in the 80th minute.

If you thought that Maccabi’s Icelandic striker’s evening was done, you’d be wrong as Vidar Kjartansson found the goal for a hat-trick thanks again to a Dasa helper giving the Yellow & Blue a 3:0 lead in the 82nd minute. Yossi Benayoun then replaced Micael in the 86th minute while Oscar Scarione came in for Vidar Kjartansson to a standing ovation in the 89th minute as Maccabi wrapped up a tidy 3:0 win.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Captain Sheran Yeini and Vidar Kjartansson took time out from their preparations for their match against Kiryat Shemona this Saturday night for a special event at the Official Store at Cinema City Rishon Le’Zion. The pair met with the fans, took pictures and signed autographs on Official Club jerseys.

But Kjartansson’s Special Limited Edition Jersey with his goal celebration printed on the back was the show stopper. The jersey was the most popular item with the fans who purchased tons of Yellow & Blue products.

Do you want to own this amazing jersey? Buy it HERE

Kjartansson spoke about the reason behind the celebration: “Some friends gave me the idea for the celebration and they said that I should do it. When you score and the adrenaline is pumping sometimes it’s hard to think. I believe that the jersey is terrific.”

On the new Head Coach Lito Vidigal: “He came from Portugal. He’s done some great things. His club was successful and I hope that will be the same case here. We’re in good shape and we have to continue this way and also improve our play.”

Even Yeini was asked about the new Vidar jersey and that he should find a celebration of his own: “First of all I’ve got to score as many goals as Vidar has. Besides that, I don’t have any celebration but if I do score then maybe I’ll have to think of something.”

On returning to the Club:
“It’s really great to be back especially to a team that I know like Maccabi Tel Aviv. I really enjoy being here, it’s fun to return and I think I made a good decision.”

On the new Coach Lito Vidigal:

“He hasn’t been with us for too long but you can see that he is a coach that brings plenty of passion to the game. Vidigal wants us to be aggressive, that we should win and go all out and that’s something I like.”

About the Kiryat Shemona match:
“It’s a very difficult match and we always have a tough time against them. We have to prepare very well because Kiryat Shemona is a team that counter attacks very well and they have a good offense, so we must come into the contest ready to go.”

The competition for a spot in the midfield:
“I think we have competition for all of the positions on the pitch, not just in the midfield and that’s good for the squad. Me? I’ll be happy wherever they use me, I just want to play as much as possible and help the Club.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv will attempt to continue their Israel State Cup run when they take on Maccabi Petah Tikva in the second leg of the quarterfinals on March 1, 21:00. Tickets will go on sale today at 15:00 with priority given to 2016/17 Season Ticket Holders until Sunday February 19 at 12:00. In addition, this match will be part of the New Points Allocation System and season ticket holders will accrue one point by purchasing a ticket while non-season ticket holders will accrue half a point.

As a reminder, in order to receive points for purchasing a ticket to this match, you must use your season ticket number if you are a season ticket holder or your USER ID if you aren’t via the Leaan Website.
Tickets are on sale via the Leaan Ticket Agency located at 101 Dizengoff Street, on their Website and by phone *8780

Please Note
On Matchday, you may purchase tickets at the Stadium and you will be able to accrue points. However, should there be a delay, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reserves the right on the spot to change the sale procedures as a regular ticket sake without point accrual
You may purchase up to 3 tickets
Tickets may be printed at home

Tickets will be available in the East Stand Sections (Upper & Lower) of the Stadium, E+ and Silver Section

Ticket Prices

Silver Section
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 150 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 155 NIS

E+ (Reserved)
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 80 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 85 NIS

Upper & Lower East Stand Sections (Unreserved)
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 55 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 60 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 until 45 minutes after the start of the match.

Matan Baltaxa, 21-year-old left-back, signed a four-year-deal this afternoon and is set to join Maccabi Tel Aviv at the end of the season from Hapoel Petah Tikva.

Sports Director Jordi Cruyff told the club’s official website: “We are happy to announce the signing of Matan Baltaxa, a young player we have been monitoring for quite a while through the clubs’ scouting department. We feel that it is important to add a young and promising player of this age, with good prospect and future, bring him over and work with him to hopefully make him a successful player”.

Baltaxa, a product of Hapoel Petah Tikva’s youth department who has been playing in the senior side since making his debut in November 2013, added: “I am happy and excited to sign for a big club as Maccabi Tel Aviv and would like to thank everyone for showing faith in me. Despite the signing which is an important step in my career, I will remain focused in the tasks which Hapoel Petah Tikva has till the end of the season”.

From his position at left-back, Baltaxa scored 5 goals in 22 league appearances for Hapoel Petah Tikva this season.

Every goal is crucial:
Barak Itzhaki has scored 4 league goals this season.
Three of the goals were the first goals in their respective games while two of them were match winners (1:0 against Ashdod & 1:0 against Maccabi Petah Tikva).

Breaking in:
Maccabi was the first team to defeat Maccabi Petah Tikva at home in league play this season.

Jordi’s record:
Since January 7th (Cup match against Bnei Lod) Jordi stood on the sidelines for 9 contests.

Maccabi won 7 games, defeated Hapoel Raanana on penalties in the State Cup and drew 2:2 against Maccabi Haifa. Losses? None that we’ve encountered.

In 5 of the matches, Maccabi was able to keep a clean sheet. The Yellow & Blue goal differential during this period: 14:5.

Maccabi won each of the last three matches by a 1:0 score.

Giving the run around:
Winger Tal Ben Chaim ran the fastest amongst all of the players from both sides with 33.2 kph.

In second place was central defender Tal Ben Haim with 32.8 kph while Eli Dasa took third amongst the Maccabi players going 31.5 kph.

Sheran Yeini ran the most over 90 minutes of action, clocking in with 10.6 km as Icelander Vidar Kjartansson ran almost the exact same amount as last match with 10.5 km. Gal Alberman (10.3) and Eitan Tibi (10.2) finished right behind them.