Maccabi Tel Aviv open their State Cup title defense tonight at 21:00 when they visit Ramat “Nir” HaSharon at Grundman Stadium in the Round of 32 of the 2015/16 competition

Just prior to the match, the draw for the next round of the State Cup took place at the Israel Football Association offices and should Maccabi advance this evening they will face Ironi  Rishon Lezion for a ticket to the quarter finals.

Round of 16 draw results

(matches to be played on January 26^th & 27^th )

Ironi Rishon Lezion vs Maccabi Tel Aviv or Ironi Ramat Hasharon
Hapoel Ashkelon vs Hapoel Ramat Gan
Ashdod vs Bnei Yehuda
Hapoel Ra’anana vs Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle
Maccabi Petah Tikva vs Hapoel Be’ersheva
Maccabi Haifa vs Hapoel Haifa
Hapoel Kfar Sava vs Hapoel Tel Aviv
Nes Ziona vs Bnei Sachnin

Shlomi Azulay, one of the Yellow-and-Blue’s midfielders is looking forward to playing in the Israel State Cup Round of 32 when they take on Ramat HaSharon from the Leumit League away at Grundman Stadium this evening at 21:00. Azulay spoke about how the smaller sides prepare to play the bigger teams in this tournament as well as the importance of the Cup competition and how it differs from the WINNER League:

“We have to always be ready for the State Cup matches and we will come prepared as this will be a difficult game. Some players who haven’t played that much recently will get a chance to play and I’m sure that they will do the job to help us advance to the next round.”

Last year, Maccabi began the tourney with a 4:1 win over Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle after having beaten Haifa in league play:

“I hope that the results will be similar and that history will repeat itself. What’s most important to us is to make sure we get to the next round as this is a knockout tournament and not like the league. Everyone will contribute and we will move on.”

The Sharon team has never been an easy opponent, especially at Grundman Stadium:

“I heard about this and that Ramat HaSharon never makes Maccabi’s life easy in any game. Hopefully we won’t run into any problems during the match and we want to make sure we are 100% ready for the game.”

About the new coach Peter Bosz:

“Every time a new coach comes to a club the players want to prove themselves. Everyone is giving all they have in training.”

Minnows facing the bigger sides in the State Cup:

“When I was with smaller clubs we all came with a lot of motivation to play against the big sides. Maccabi has been the best team in Israel over the past few years and I’m sure we ourselves will come into the match full of energy and motivation to make sure that we aren’t upset.”

Dor Micha, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s midfielder addressed the assembled media prior to his club’s Israel State Cup game at Ramat Hasharon on Thursday at Grundman Stadium, 21:00. Number 15 spoke about his increased playing time and some of the differences that the club is experiencing with the new Boss:

“I’m always smiling. I have to take everything into proportion, if I’m playing or if I’m not. But it was good to be playing again. It’s great for me to play and make an impact on the pitch. I’m not doing anything extra special but I’m just playing my game.”

Pressuring the opponent when they have the ball:

“Pressing our opponents is not something new, but it’s something we want to do with the new coach because he wants us to do it. We’ve done it in the past, some games more and some games less.”

On Peter Bosz’s coaching style:

“Every coach has their own unique style and philosophy. The training sessions now include more time with the ball than they had been before. We’re enjoying them. Personally, I think that the change will do the team some good and we can reach our potential now, something that I don’t think we did beforehand.”

Positive energy within the club:

The energy is good within the team and the new coach has been very personable. He also says everything that is on his mind. We have a very big squad and the level of our players is very close. Whoever proves himself will play.”

Changes within the coaching ranks:

“The atmosphere is pretty much the same as it was before and we’ve had a good locker room for the last 4 years. We’ve changed coaches in the past and it’s not the first time.”

About the State Cup:

“The State Cup is important and it doesn’t matter if we are playing against a Leumit team or not. Our goal is to win both competitions that are left. The State Cup and the league.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv opens their State Cup title defense tomorrow, Thursday evening at 21:00 when they take a short trip to Grundman Stadium to take on Ramat HaSharon. But right before the match, lets look at who the Yellow-and-Blue faced in first round action prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, who the all-time leading State Cup goal scorer is, what was the margin of the biggest win and more:

This week Maccabi will begin it’s 79th year in the Israel State Cup Tournament

Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, the Yellow-and-Blue played against two British Army sides: In 1929 they defeated the Communications Corps (Sarafand Radio) 5:2 and in 1938 Maccabi beat the Air Corps (Flying Ramle) 6:1.

10:0 was the match with the largest margin of victory and it occurred in 1937 against Maccabi Bar-Kochba Jerusalem.

54 times Maccabi has faced lower division sides in the first round of the State Cup and three teams have been from the 5th division: Beitar Pardes Chana, Ironi Hod HaSharon and Ironi Ofakim.

1 time Maccabi had to go to penalties in the first round and that was back in 2002 when they defeated Tzafririm Holon 6:5 after 120 minutes tied at 1:1.

In 1952, Maccabi advanced via a technical victory when Maccabi Netanya was unable to field 11 players in the match.

Benny Tabak scored 31 goals for Maccabi Tel Aviv in State Cup matches. His first goal in the first round was against Hapoel Ramat Gan in a 2:0 win for the Yellow-and-Blue.

Hapoel “Nir” Ramat HaSharon will be the 83rd opponent for Maccabi in State Cup play since Israel’s establishment. This will be the first time they will be playing against each other in this competition.

HaKoach Amidar Ramat Gan and Hapoel Jerusalem are the teams that Maccabi has played most often at this stage of the tournament  – 4 times a piece.

Last year Maccabi also faced a Leumit League team in the first round when they defeated Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle 4:1. Interestingly enough the Yellow-and-Blue beat Maccabi Haifa 1:0 in league play prior to that State Cup match.

Data: Courtesy of Yaron Maashal.

Maccabi Tel Aviv accepted a request from Watford FC and granted permission for Haviv  Ohayon to spend three days training with the  Premiership club.

Sports Director Jordi Cruyff  told the clubs’ official website: “Haviv Ohayon is a promising young keeper and such an experience should be very important for his development”.

Peter Bosz, the Yellow-and-Blue coach is preparing his side for their Israel State Cup match against Leumit outfit Ramat HaSharon at Grundman Stadium on Thursday, 21:00. As the Dutchman continues to learn the Israeli style of football he discussed what his expectations are for his second game in charge:

Feelings about the Cup?

“It’s very important. There are two competitions left and I want to win everything that is left to win.”

 State Cup as a specific goal:

 “We didn’t specifically talk about the State Cup but it’s an important match and tournament with a prize to win and sportsmen always want to win, that is their goal.”

 On the team’s last match:

 “I’ve been here just for a week and I don’t want to overload the players with information. I studied the last game on video and I have an idea of how I want to see Maccabi play. I went over the game with the players for about 10 minutes.”

 The composition of the lineup against Ramat HaSharon:

 “I want to see all of the players, so I may use other players that didn’t play last match. It’s an opportunity for me to see the different players.”

 Eden Ben Basat’s status with the club:

 “Every training is a chance for the players. I work with all of the players and I like him, I will continue to work with him.”

 About the Bnei Yehuda vs Hapoel Akko match he was at yesterday:

 “I am trying to get to know the league as soon as possible. Every opportunity I have to watch a game I will. I’d rather go to see a football match than to sit in my hotel room.”

 The energy level he wants to see from his team in the State Cup:

 “I’m never worried but it’s clear that we have to play at 100% and if we play 95% then there may be problems.”

 Potential transfer window moves:

 “The transfer talk is something you need to talk to Jordi about.”

April 12th, 1988. Maccabi Tel Aviv visited Hapoel Akko in the first round of the State Cup. On paper it looked like the Cup holder’s would have no problem advancing to the next round, especially against a side from the Artzit League.

1,500 fans, most of them locals, came out to what was for them a big party, as they settled into their seats to see their Yellow-and-Blue heroes: The young Eli Drikes, Menashe Shamonov, Moshe Griani, Alon Natan and Benny Tabak all started for Speigel and Bar Nur.

As soon as the whistle was blown to start the match, Maccabi pressured the Akko goal looking to score early and solidifying their place in the next round. However, they weren’t able to find a way past the Akko defense and the half ended goalless.

But it took just two minutes into the second half for Maccabi to take a 2:0 lead. The first goal came from a Drikes cross that Griani headed into the goal and the second off of a penalty called when Benny Tabak was fouled in the box. Alon Natan took the 11-meter kick and scored to give the Yellow-and-Blue what looked to be an insurmountable advantage. Bar Nur and Spiegel assumed that the match was all but over, until out of nowheres Akko scored a 66th minute spot kick from the foot of Dor Halfon and Nisim Edri evened the score at 2:2 in the 88th minute forcing the match to extra time.

Three minutes into the extra frame, Akko completed the turnaround scoring from a Dor Halfon penalty for his second goal of the evening. You couldn’t miss the cheering in favor of Akko at this point but Shamonov silenced the crowd in the 111th minute to send the deciding match to Bloomfield Stadium.

Even though Maccabi had found a way back into the match, Bar Nur summed up his disappointment, saying, “We simply had no desire.”

April 19th, 1988. A week after the disappointing draw in Akko, Speigel and Bar Nur decided to make wholesale changes in the lineup that couldn’t find a way to win in the first leg. On the other side of the pitch, Akko came into the match with a lot of expectations and fantasizing that they could be a Cinderella story.

The Yellow-and-Blue pressed Akko right from the beginning of the game and in the 16th minute, Eitan Levy gave Maccabi a 1:0 lead and significantly reduced the stress and pressure that was all over his coaches. That first goal led to four more with Benny Tabak scoring a hat-trick and Drikes picking up one as well, to give the home side the 5:0 win and a date with Hapoel Jerusalem in the Round of 16. How did the journey end? With a 2:1 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv and back-to-back State Cups.

“So, how impressed were you with the team?” Peter Bosz asked at this morning’s meeting at Kiryat Shalom. The Dutchman smiles while looking outside at the beautiful sunny mid-January day holding his cup of coffee. At Arnhem it’s just 4 degrees and stormy, he recalls.

“Well,” the new coach says in perfect English, “The situation here is much better than I thought it was and the team knows how to press. The midfielders know how to distribute the ball and create opportunities and with time that will improve as well. The defense is good but there is what to work on. There’s no question that this is a very good team.”

“What do you have to say about our big star player?” He’s asked. “He certainly is,” Bosz smiles to himself. “There are some very good players even some who are outstanding, but only one is the complete player a cut above the rest. There’s only one that I can completely trust with my eyes closed, that I know will give everything he has every single match, who understands and knows how to follow instructions. They’re all great, but only Gal Alberman is a star.”

This imaginary monologue is one that every single Maccabi coach over the past few years has said to himself. If these words were never spoken then its an absolute travesty. It’s true, there’s not much more that you can say about Zahavi, and 20 goals in a half a season is certainly a massive stat. And yes, Tal Ben Chaim can rip apart an opponents defense (at least in Israel) and Dor Micha can finish off a game with one soft touch. But yesterday at Bloomfield we saw the best defensive midfielder in Israel playing in his heyday.

Alberman as they say is a coach’s dream player. His commitment to the team is no less than the fans who sit in Gate 11 and his understanding of the game and style is ten times more than any one of them. He is the complete player at that position – no one is expecting him to score or even hand out assists. One goal and a pair of assists in one season is about what you can expect. The 33-year old knows how to control the match, close down the opponent and press the ball. These are the things that are the bread and butter of a professional footballer and no one does it better between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Ocean.

Peter Bosz has plenty of work ahead of him. There are many parameters of the club that need to be improved – from the striker to a quicker central defender. The well-oiled machine sometimes hits some rough patches and yesterday’s match was far from the complete performance. Improvement in these areas still come from the club’s mainstay, Alberman (and yes Zahavi), a player from whom you know exactly what you’re going to get. The players around him may change or move to different roles, but he’s one that you can always count on to do his part. That’s exactly what he did yesterday – and for the last three years – he makes all of the difference.

This is an opinion column