Gal Alberman, the veteran Maccabi defensive midfielder talked about the match that was against Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 21 of the Ligat Ha’Al at the Netanya Stadium. Number 6 discussed the importance of the fans, the changed atmosphere and the match itself:

“We knew what the table situation was prior to the match and we were aware that anything else other than a victory wouldn’t be good enough. After losing a number of points throughout the season, it didn’t leave us much choice for any other result. So we had to make sure we defeated our main rival which is Hapoel Beer Sheva. We took into account that anything other than a win wouldn’t help us.”

Not looking to far ahead:

“On one hand we’re happy because we needed the win on the other we still have to remember what situation we are in and be realistic as to where we are. We would have liked to be closer to Beer Sheva or even ahead of them at this point of the campaign and we still have a large gap to close, so there’s no time to celebrate. We have to be focussed and not make the same mistakes that we made earlier on. We looked at a number of matches and said we should win 3-4 in a row but then we fouled up in the next game. We can’t look to far ahead and we must take each and every match as the most important one of the season and hopefully this will take us to a better place going forward.”

No room to err:

“Over the last few matches there has been a much better atmosphere and that is always thanks to the fans who have cheered us on. After a period of time where we weren’t that good, we pulled ourselves together and understood that we had to change things up to be where we should be and we did just that. We made that switch and as players we’re battling harder and improved where we needed to. We are looking ahead and we have many crucial games coming up. We don’t have any room to err.”

The fans:

“The fans put on a great show throughout the contest. The fans have been with is during the rough patches as well as the good times. Like I’ve said before, the fans are an integral part of all of us and we’re happy that they stood by us today. But we need them for each and every match as we want to be in the championship fight for the balance of the campaign, especially since we are also playing in a Stadium that is not our “real” home. But it will feel more like home when the fans keep cheering us on and are coming to support us.”

Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Sports Director discussed the victory against Beer Sheva on Matchday 21 of the Ligat Ha’Al at the Netanya Stadium. He spoke about the risk of stepping in as coach, defender Tal Ben Haim and the match itself:

“I think the team was getting tired with some players with muscular issues. They have a good team and pressed us a lot. If we scored to make it 2:0 before halftime the game would look totally different. We had to protect or goal in the second half and that’s what we did, we played a wall and I don’t recall that Beer Sheva had any clear chance.”

Matching up:

“If Melikson wasn’t sick they would have had 4 offensive players and we wanted to match them. We had good energy and most importantly was that we take the three points.”

How to win:

“On one side it’s important to know how to win these games when you have the lead. We had the organization that we needed. The second half the players were tired after the first half when we played very hard. Then you have to make a sure you find a way to win, which we did.”

Defender Tal Ben Haim:

“Yes, I think that we knew that Filipenka wasn’t going to be fit for the game and we had a few options and we used Tal in the position. It would have been hard to put a new player in that spot right away. I never offered anyone to any team. Every player has a chance to fight for his position and Tal did that and played very well.”

Staying on as coach:

“No, I don’t think that it’s a definite decision. Right now is not the time to bring a new coach because of the Beer Sheva game and important games against Petach Tikva. I want to thank the owner for the new players and we have many options now once they get into the system.”

What type of coach:

“We need to bring someone that has a certain prototype and nationality and pinpoint the right person and find the right timing which right now is not. We sort of know who we want and what type of coach we want but again it’s timing. When the new players get into the system and a new coach will come then it will also be better for him.”

Poor play under Shota Arveladze:

“The players now stepped up, and I really don’t think it was a coaching issue. The points we lost against the opponents we lost to was something more inside. Everyone can see it now that the players are much more into it and they are working hard, when you work hard you also get lucky.”

Was stepping in as coach a risk:

“I think it was a big risk and there was more to lose than to win. I believe in this squad and I believe in the players and I stepped in to take responsibility of the players. I’m not a daily coach type but I know what types of players to play and what to do.”

Vidar Kjartansson scored a 9th minute goal wearing his brand new number 9 jersey to help Maccabi to the win and three points. Aaron Schoenfeld and Marcelo dos Santos made their Yellow & Blue debuts in the victory.

Prematch
Sports Director Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI had some new wrinkles in it from prior matches, however, the goalkeeper position was not one of them as Predrag Rajikovic was in goal with a defense of Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Tal Ben Haim and Captain Sheran Yeini. Gal Alberman, Eyal Golasa and Yossi Benayoun patrolled the midfield while Dor Micha, Tal Ben Chaim and Vidar Kjartansson played up front.

Available on the bench for Cruyff were Daniel Lifshitz, Omri Ben Harush, Ramon Roma, Barak Itzhaki, Aaron Schoenfeld, Marcelo dos Santos and Eliel Peretz.

First Half
With an electric atmosphere throughout the Netanya Stadium, the Yellow & Blue looked to take advantage of their home field and they did just that in the 9th minute thanks to Maccabi’s new #9 Vidar Kjartansson. The Icelandic striker who just switched numbers from 9 to 24, took Dasa’s magnificent cross in the middle of the box and slotted home the ball for a quick 1:0 lead.

Maccabi looked to double the score in the 13th and 19th minutes to no avail, while the Yellow & Blue kept the Beer Sheva attack at bay. In the 28th minute, Mahran Radi tried to find the equalizer for Beer Sheva against his ex-club but missed from long range while Ben Chaim’s free kick three minutes later found Benayoun’s head, but the veteran’s chance went over the bar.

With the contest heating up in the 39th minute, Maor Bozaglo picked up a yellow card for a reckless tackle on Tal Ben Chaim while Eliyaniv Barda received one as well for complaining from the bench. In the 43rd minute Ovidiu Huban tried his luck from far out, but his effort was skied over Rajikovic’s goal as Maccabi had back to back chances at the other end. Micha hit the right post and Ben Chaim’s effort just went wide left of the goal as Maccabi headed into the break with a 1:0 lead.

Second Half
The rough play continued into half number two as Loai Taha picked up a yellow card in the 49th minute and Alberman was issued one at the top of the box just one minute later, giving Beer Sheva a free kick chance. However, Maor Buzgalo’s free kick hit the Maccabi wall and the rebound went flying over the goal via a Radi effort.

In the 59th minute, Beer Sheva made the first substitution of the match bringing on Michael Ohana for Huban while Maccabi countered three minutes later as Marcelo dos Santos made his Yellow & Blue debut in favor of an injured Ben Chaim. In the 68th minute Ben Turgeman was issued a yellow card for a reckless tackle on Marcelo while John Ogu picked up a yellow card of his own for dissent.

In the 70th minute, American striker Aaron Schoenfeld made his Yellow & Blue debut in favor of goal scorer Vidar Kjartansson. With Beer Sheva controlling the tempo, Micha picked up a 78th minute yellow card as he pulled down Ohana in the midfield breaking up a counter attack. Beer Sheva then brought on Nir Zrihen for Radi three minutes later, Maccabi made their final substitution as Eliel Peretz came on for Golasa while Beer Sheva did the same in the 87th minute as Voba Brown entered the fray for Taha.

Marcelo had an 88th minute chance but Beer Sheva keeper Dudu Goresh made the easy save. With the referee indicating five minutes of added time, Buzaglo’s 16 meter effort was caught by Rajikovic as he was in the right place at the right time to make the stop.

Following a yellow card to Schoenfeld, the referee blew the whistle to end the match and gave the Yellow & Blue the victory and 3 points cutting the Beer Sheva lead to just 5 points atop the table. Maccabi will now get ready for a Wednesday night first leg State Cup Quarterfinals match at Maccabi Petach Tikva.

Aaron Schoenfeld joined Maccabi Tel Aviv after the 26-year-old American striker completed a medical and signed a 3.5-year-deal at the club.

Schoenfeld, who will receive the number 25 at Maccabi told the club’s official website: “I am happy to start the next chapter in my career and extremely grateful to Maccabi Tel Aviv for believing in me. I am looking forward to many positive moments with my new teammates and can’t wait to start training with them soon”

Sports Director Jordi Cruyff told the clubs’ official website: “Aaron is a player we have been wanting to sign for a while as we all think he would add a different dimension to our game. I am happy we could start working with him in training as I am sure that at Maccabi he will enjoy playing football again”.

The Knoxville born striker, 193cm, began his playing career for the East Tennessee State University college, scoring 20 goals in 72 appearances. One season with Portland Phoenix attracted the attention of MLS side Columbus Crew for which he scored 5 goals in 51 appearances and 12 goals in 18 matches whilst on loan with Dayton Dutch Lions. Schoenfeld joined Maccabi Netanya in January 2016 and after two league matches was sold to Hapoel Tel Aviv where he scored 8 times in 12 league appearances. This season, Schoenfeld scored a total of 4 goals in 18 appearances in all competitions.

Ruben Micael joined Maccabi Tel Aviv after the club reached an agreement with Chinese club Shijiazhuang for the loan deal of the Portuguese international midfielder.

Micael, 30, who will wear the number 14 shirt at Maccabi, scored two goals on his international debut for Portugal against Finland and has since made 15 more appearances for the European Champions. A graduate of Uniao Madiera’s youth department, Ruben Micael plays as an attacking midfielder who played for Nacional, FC Porto before being bought in 2011 by Atletico Madrid and spent loan periods with Zaragoza and Sporting Braga who made the move permanent in 2013. Six goals in 47 appearances for Braga, attracted the attention of the Chinese club who signed Ruben who scored 6 goals in 18 months.

Jordi Cruyff told the club’s official website: “We are happy to bring a player in the caliber of Ruben to Maccabi. We hope that his experience and ability will help him integrate quickly and help the team reach its’ goals”.