Just before heading out to the team’s practice, Barak Itzhaki found time to surprise a Maccabi fan who is playing at Palo Alto University in California after injuring his ankle for a second time this year. The Yellow-and-Blue striker cheered him on and encouraged him on the way to his recovery

Matan Ziv spoke to Barak Itzhaki about his injuries: “I had injured my ankle last year and had been out for four months before coming back to play in January but after playing for a couple of months I broke my ankle and now I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow. One ankle was hurt the first time and the other one now. I’m probably going to be out for a year.”

Barak Itzhaki has been through some injuries as well: “I know all about it. A lot of the injury is up in your head and sometimes you have to make sure that your head won’t play tricks on you. You have to be very strong mentally. It’s not easy because you will think about it.”

Maccabi’s#10 continued: “Sometimes during training the other players let up after one of the other guys is coming back from an injury because they are afraid to hurt him again. But in my case, I had to encourage them and tell the to play harder against me that way I could get back to being me.”

Ziv  was concerned about how he will still be a part of the club even though he won’t be around or practicing with the team and Itzhaki said that it was the toughest part.

“It’s the hardest thing to sit on the side and watch your teammate every day practicing and training. It’s not easy and it was very tough for me. But in the end everything will get back to normal as you see me now. Make sure you take care of yourself and I wish you the best of luck! YALLA Maccabi!”

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s owner Mitch Goldhar told the clubs’ official website: “On behalf of everyone at Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club, fans, employees, players and coaching staff I would like to offer our deepest condolences to the Cruyff family following the death of Johan who sadly succumbed today to cancer.

Jordi’s father visited us many times in Israel  and as recently as only a few weeks ago. Over the years he became a part of the Maccabi Tel Aviv family sharing his knowledge with so many of us who will always hold him in high regard.

Johan was one of the world’s greatest players of all times and his legacy will live on forever. However, more importantly Johan Cruyff was a decent man who allocated his time and energy to people other than himself, particularly his family. He was especially proud of his son Jordi and his achievements at Maccabi Tel Aviv FC. Today, Maccabi lost a friend and one we will remember with great affection”.

Coach Peter Bosz added: “My initial thoughts are with Jordi and his family as they lost the father figure of the family but also the father figure of Dutch Football. Johan was and still is the biggest football player that Holland ever had and the one who always had a special idea of the way football must be played. As a player, I learned a lot from Johan but also as a coach and I feel blessed to have met him and spend an entire week with him only a fortnight ago.

“We managed to speak every day about football in general and about Maccabi Tel Aviv in particular – but the saddest thing is to be talking about Johan in past terms. We offer our sincere condolences to Jordi and his family and will continue supporting him“.

Eitan Tibi, one of the Yellow-and-Blue stars who played a central role in the match this past week against Hapoel Beer Sheva, travelled with his Israel teammates to Croatia for a friendly against the likes of Luka Modric of Real Madrid and Mario Mandzukic of Juventus. The central defender spoke about the difficult times all of Europe is currently struggling with, playing with the aforementioned global stars and about the upcoming match itself:

“We prepare for each and every game. The match against Beer Sheva a few days ago was not easy and this friendly match against Croatia will be difficult as well. We want to enjoy this match and get a good result and I hope that’s what will be the end result.”

Playing in Croatia during the troubling times in Europe:

“It’s not an easy situation and our country has to deal with many of these types of situations as well. I hope and pray that these events will come to an end for everyone’s sake.”

Sharing the pitch with some of the footballing greats:

“In general, National Team players are the best players of their country and there’s no question that some of the players we will be playing against tomorrow are some of the greatest players in the world. But this is football and I hope that we will be able to win.”