After completing two-thirds of the Israeli Premier League season, and just ahead of the top-six playoffs, Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach gives his thoughts on the normal season ("We are in a great position"), on his dressing room ("I have met in the past great character, we've got great character as well") and on the question whether he believed at the beginning of the season he'd be in post position to win the treble. Watch the full interview here below:
Category: News
Maccabi – Hapoel Petach Tikva; By the numbers
Tonight the second round of the season 2014/15 Israeli Premier League matches comes to a close when Maccabi host Hapoel Petach Tikva
After defeating them 1-3 in round one of this season's Israeli Premier ("Winner") League matches, Maccabi Tel Aviv will be hoping to complete a double when they welcome rivals Hapoel Petach Tikva to Bloomfield Stadium tonight at 8.55pm for the final match of the 2014/15 pre-playoff season. A victory would extend Maccabi's lead to five points at the top of the league table, but what do the stats have to tell us about the chances of that happening? Have a look for yourself.
Barak Itzhaki: “We’ve still a lot of work ahead”
Maccabi's veteran striker Barak Itzhaki is happy the team go into the play-offs with an increased lead at the top but warns: "We've still a lot of work ahead"
The pre-playoff section of the Israeli Premier ("Winner") League came to an upbeat conclusion today with Maccabi Tel Aviv's 2-0 win at Bloomfield Stadium over Hapoel Petach Tikva. It was the kind of performance head coach Pako Ayestaran loves to see in his players: "I think we had two clear different parts in both halves. The first twenty, twenty-five minutes was enjoyable, I think you cannot play better football. Afterwards we rushed the game a little. The second half was the opposite, we finished on a high". Pako was also pleased with the performance of striker Barak Itzhaki, who after a lengthy injury came on as a substitute in the second half: "We know that Barak Itzhaki is capable of great things and we are looking forward to more minutes of him".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0QfDroEKzY
Barak himself wasted little time on the pitch, quickly displaying some of his characteristically classy moves, including a juicy cross into the area and an attempt to beat the Petach Tikva keeper with a long ball after Itzhaki saw him straying far off his line. After the match he had this to say about his first appearance in a month and a half : "It takes a lot of hard work to get where I got tonight. But I'm glad I finally got back on the pitch and it felt good, that's what's most important so far I'm concerned". The veteran striker is also looking ahead to the top-six playoffs, which will begin on Sunday with an enticing home encounter against a resurgent Maccabi Haifa: "We've still a lot of work ahead, the play-offs will be very tough. Our first two matches are at home but against two very difficult opponents".
Nosa Igiebor: “They have nothing to lose”
Midfielder Nosa Igiebor is ready for tomorrow's match against Hapoel Petach Tikva, Maccabi's last of the pre-playoff season
A day ahead of Maccabi's final match of the 2014/15 pre-playoff Israeli Premier ("Winner") season, midfielder Nosa Igiebor spoke to the official Maccabi Tel Aviv website about the significance of the team's head-of-table finish going into the top-six playoffs: "I think it's important to finish at the top. That's what we wanted, even before the start of the season, to finish with good points to get into the playoff. And I think it's very important for us, giving us that extra confidence to know that, okay, we have a few points ahead. But it does not mean we should relax because we know what we want. We want to fight for the championship and I think we'll take every game seriously".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3zy3dWrzEo
Nosa also had a word to say about title rivals Ironi Kiryat Shmona dropping yet another three points at the weekend: "We don't always think about how Kiryat Shmona play because sometimes if we think too much about these guys we go also on the pitch and maybe get nervous or something, I don't know. But we don't want to think about Kiryat Shmona, we want to focus on Maccabi and that's what is important".
As for tomorrow night's last pre-playoff encounter against Hapoel Petach Tikva, the Nigerian said: "For sure it's going to be difficult. They want to come all out and fight because they have nothing to lose. But we'll stay focused".
Get out your diaries for The top-six playoffs
The moment we've all been waiting for: The final fixture schedule for this season's top-six playoff
Maccabi Tel Aviv still have one more pre-playoff encounter to play this season, tomorrow night against Hapoel Petach Tikva. But win or lose, Maccabi's season 2014/15 top-six playoff campaign is already in place. This coming Sunday Maccabi will play their first of two consecutive play-off ties at Bloomfield Stadium. Their opponents: Maccabi Haifa, with ex-Maccabi Tel Aviv star striker Eliran Atar. A week later Maccabi's guests will be no less intimidating, second-placed Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Sound intriguing? Just wait. The following week Maccabi head north to play third-placed Ironi Kiryat Shmona, followed by Beitar Jerusalem (home) and Maccabi Petach Tikva (away).
After a short break at "Teddy" Stadium in Jerusalem on April 29th to face second division side Ahi Nazareth in the semi-finals of the prestigious Israeli State Cup, round two of the play-offs will begin with two away encounters against Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Beer Sheva. After that Maccabi return home, but only briefly, to face Ironi Kiryat Shmona, before returning to the capital to face Beitar Jerusalem. Maccabi's final match of the 2014/15 Israeli Premier ("Winner") League season will be at home against Maccabi Petach Tikva.
So have a good look at the play-off programme and then go to the multimedia page of the official website, enter the polls and cast your vote for the play-off match you think will be Maccabi's toughest.
Itzhaki: “A chance for more room at the top”
Tomorrow Maccabi will host Hapoel Petach Tikva in the final match of the normal season
After securing the top spot in the table at the start top-six playoffs, Maccabi Tel Aviv will play their last match of the normal Israeli Premier ("Winner") League season against Hapoel Petach Tikva tomorrow night at Bloomfield Stadium at 8.55pm. The home side will be looking to optimise the start of their play-off campaign, which kicks off against Maccabi Haifa next week, by widening the gap with their title rivals Ironi Kiryat Shmona, who lost their final normal season encounter on Saturday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_c8XCCbiCQ
At a pre-match press conference attended by head coach Pako Ayestaran and veteran striker Barak Itzhaki, the coach admitted: "After twenty-five features the team that is in front is there because maybe they deserve it. That we could be better, probably yes. The difficulty of a winners team is to continue winning. After winning two championships, sometimes winning one, when you are not used to it, the coming season normally is difficult". Asked if perhaps the squad weren't strong enough to take the third consecutive title, the Spaniard responded: "It's difficult, not because of the quality. It's difficult because of the mentality. The beginning of the season is the easiest part for any club, any coach, any player, because there is the desire, everybody wants to show that they are capable of being in, the trophies are still not putting pressure on the players, everybody's focused. As soon as you are closer to the end of the season, many winds have moved the boat, and the boat instead of going forward starts to go from one side to the other. Everything affects the end of the season. That's why I want to think about today. I want to think about the best work we can do today. Even coaches who are not thinking about what we have to do today, and start thinking about what can happen in a week's time, in eight weeks' time or next pre-season, I think we are making a mistake. I think everybody should know this. I want to think about today, that's what I think is going to be the approach from now on because if we start losing focus, I think we are losing energy from what matters".
Barak Itzhaki has just returned to full training and will be match-fit tomorrow night: "I just recovered from a long injury a few months ago and I was in fine form," the veteran striker related. "Then I got another knock that set me back, but now I'm ready for tomorrow's game. I'm hungrier than ever and want to prove to myself and to the coach I deserve a place in this club. Maccabi are a big club, the top club in Israel, and that's where I want to play. I believe in myself, in my abilities and I just know that once I get out there again and play my game that will be the best way to show the club I'm worthy of my spot".
Asked to compare the team's performance this year with that of last season, Itzhaki replied: "Look, you can always find different ways of comparing seasons. Last year we were successful and this year too. We're top of table and in the Cup semi-finals. That's two good seasons on the trot and that's no mean feat. I'm happy to be a part of all that". He added: "Of course it's all down to us. I think you should be looking at it differently, to give credit to the people on this team, and recognise where we are in the table and in the Cup. There's still a long way to go and of course I hope we make it. Right now we're focused on the match against Hapoel Petach Tikva. It's a big game and gives us a chance for more room at the top".
Saturday’s Results in the Youth Division
Another Saturday of goals and victories galore in Maccabi's Youth Division
Saturday's slate of Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division fixtures began with the Under-17s, who played their game in hand at Ashdod FC and turned it into a 1-11 rout. Ofri Mashta led the assault with a hat-trick, but three different Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" players scored a brace each: Omer Lakao, Almog Eylon and Ron Gabay. Ran Vaturi and Lenny Aharon rounded off the scoring and helped head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's team to climb to the top of the national U17 Premier League table, a point ahead of title rivals Maccabi Haifa, with nine games left to the season.
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" were able to maintain their pre-eminence in the nationwide U16 League South table courtesy of a 0-5 away win at Maccabi Shoham. Neil Goldberg scored twice, Prince Thomas and Rom Wasserman once each, with a Shoham own goal completing the impressive scoreline that sends head coach Shlomi Mitelka's lads three points clear of nearest rivals Maccabi Petach Tikva. Despite playing out a 3-3 draw against Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabi's Under-15 Team 1 also managed to hold on to the top spot in the nationwide U15 Central District table, albeit with a decreased six-point margin ahead of Jerusalem's second U15 team, Beitar. All three of Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad"'s goals were scored by Muflah Shla'ata.
But it wasn't only league duties that occupied the Youth Division on Saturday, as a number of the teams were also involved in contests for advancement to the final stages of their respective State Cup competitions. Head coach Ori David's Under-14 Team South booked their place in the semi-finals after a 4-1 home win against Beitar Jerusalem. Tal Yagudaev produced a hat-trick and Omri Ram added the fourth for the home side. Maccabi's Under-14 Team North also passed their quarter-final test, but in far more dramatic fashion. They were hosted by Hapoel Ra'anana and at the end of regulation time the scoreboard showed three goals for each side. Only in the ensuing penalty shoot-out did head coach Asaf Profeta's charges succeed in showing their superiority, overturning a 3-3 draw in favour of a 4-2 triumph. The only Youth Division team to see their advance in State Cup competition halted were the Under 13 Team North, who succumbed to Maccabi Haifa 3-6.
Maccabi’s U19s draw 0-0 at Netanya
Maccabi's U19s played out their first goalless draw of the season against Maccabi Netanya
After ending a run of three defeats in all competitions with a convincing 5-0 win at Hapoel Ra'anana last week, Maccabi's Under-19s set out today for a tricky away tie at Maccabi Netanya. With their lead at the top of the U19 Premier League recently reduced from nine to five points, victory today would have proved an important tool in maintaining their league supremacy. Unfortunately their resolute opponents had other ideas as Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" were held to their first goalless draw of the season. Head coach Ziv Arie's lads pressed their opponents throughout the contest but were unable to find the net and in the end were forced to share the points. And with their closest title rivals Maccabi Haifa winning again today, "Schachar"'s lead at the top was reduced to three points.
Maccabi Netanya's Under-19s have run an erratic course in the league so far this season, so it was down to the players of Maccabi Tel Aviv to set the tone from the start of the match, and that tone was attacking the opposition goal. The U19 Premier League's leading goalscorer, Yonatan Cohen, failed early on to get past Netanya keeper Dean Gal with a powerful shot and the team's subsequent pressure proved unable to create dangerous scoring situations of any significance. Midfielder Sohil Armeli, who scored a brace in last week's triumph against Hapoel Ra'anana, twice tried his luck at long range but to no avail and the final attempt of the goalless first half fell once again to Yonatan Cohen. His free kick had all the markings of posing a threat but was handled well by keeper Gal.
Fifteen minutes after the restart Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" created their most promising scoring opportunity of the match when Sohil Armeli powered into the Netanya area but his finish went wide. Yonatan Cohen also came close with yet another free kick and at the other end Maccabi Netanya also had their moment when Nir Azaria got within a fraction of Haviv Ohayon. But the sixteen year-old Maccabi keeper held his ground and the two sides finished the tie empty-handed, sharing the points of a goalless draw.
For Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s this was only their second draw of the 2014/15 season, and their first without scoring altogether. For Maccabi Netanya, this was their first draw of any sort, but this premier against the league's leading club succeeded in reducing "Shachar"'s advantage to a mere three points after Maccabi Haifa's win at Hapoel Ra'anana. Next week "Shachar" will head out to the nation's capital to face Beitar Jerusalem.
This Saturday in the Youth Division
This Saturday the U17s face a real challenge, while the younger teams look to reach the State Cup semi-finals
After restoring normal service last Saturday with their sixteenth league win of the season, Maccabi's Under-19s will this week head out to face Maccabi Netanya at "Shapira" Field at 11.30am and try to hold on to their five-point lead at the top of the U19 Premier League table. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" are looking at a busy week that includes playing two fixtures in the space of as many days. On Saturday the club's Under-17s travel north to face Nesher FC at 11am and on Monday they'll play their game in hand against Hapoel Beer Sheva at the Kiryat Shalom training ground at 4pm. If they can win both of those matches, "Oded" will regain the top spot in the national U17 Premier League table.
Maccabi's Under-16s, leaders of the nationwide U16 League South table, will be looking to hold on to that lead when they face bottom-of-table Maccabi Shoham away at 11.45am. Both of Maccabi's Under-15 teams are playing tricky ties on Saturday. Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldar", have a 9am appointment at Kiryat Yovel playing field to face Hapoel Jerusalem and Team 2 welcome title rivals Maccabi Netanya to the artificial pitch at Kiryat Shalom at 8.30am.
Maccabi's younger competitors will all be focused on State Cup ties on Saturday. The Under-14 Team South will host their counterparts from Beitar Jerusalem at Kiryat Shalom at 10.15am for a battle for a place in the semi-finals. The club's Under-13 teams will face the same challenge, Team South at 11am at Maccabi Haifa's "Ketzef" training complex and Team North at 8.30am at Hapoel Ra'anana.
The top-six playoffs: Two scenarios
This coming weekend, the last matches will be played of the normal 2014/15 Israeli Premier League season. Only then will we know the complete picture of the all-important top-six playoffs. Here's a preview
This coming Monday Maccabi Tel Aviv will welcome Hapoel Petach Tikva to Bloomfiield Stadium in their last encounter of the normal 2014/15 Israeli Premier League season. From that moment on all eyes will be focused on the all-important playoffs. The results of the top-six playoff will determine the 2014/15 Premier League champions and which clubs play In Europe at the start of the 2015/16 season. Those of the bottom eight will tell us who stays up and who spends next season in the second division "Leumit" League. But it's not just finishing in one or the other play-off group that influences the run-in phase of the season. Each club's position within the two play-off groups also determines the order and venues of their play-off fixtures, and it goes without saying that the higher a club finishes, the more favourable their run-in schedule will be.
Going into the last match of the pre-playoff season with a four point lead at the top of the Israeli Premier League table, Maccabi Tel Aviv are now the only club that are assured of their position in the top-six playoff sweepstake. Ironi Kiryat Shmona and Hapoel Beer Sheva are certain of a place in the top six, but only the results of the final week's encounters will tell us who finishes second and who third. Four different clubs are vying for the remaining three places – Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi Petach Tikva, Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Ra'anana – all separated by a mere three points. So only on Sunday night, after Hapoel Beer Sheva's match against Bnei Sakhnin, will Maccabi Tel Aviv know exactly what their play-off schedule will look like. But in the meantime, here follow two possible scenarios for your perusal.
1. Opening against Maccabi Petach Tikva, finishing with Maccabi Haifa
As first-placed club in the top-six playoff, Maccabi's opening play-off encounter will be at home to the team that finishes sixth, their last at home to the team that finishes fifth. This particular scenario anticipates only one change in the table as it now stands, with Maccabi Haifa finishing fifth and Maccabi Petach Tikva finishing sixth. In that case Maccabi Tel Aviv's home encounter against Haifa will take place in the final week instead of the first.
Gameweek |
Fixture |
Gameweek |
Fixture |
|
27 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Maccabi Petach Tikva |
32 |
Maccabi Petach Tikva – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
|
28 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Ironi Kiryat Shmona |
33 |
Ironi Kiryat Shmona – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
|
29 |
Hapoel Beer Sheva – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
34 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Beer Sheva |
|
30 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Beitar Jerusalem |
35 |
Beitar Jerusalem – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
|
31 |
Maccabi Haifa – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
36 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Maccabi Haifa |
2. Opening against Hapoel Ra'anana, finishing with Beitar Jerusalem
This scenario anticipates Hapoel Ra'anana reaching the top-six playoffs at the expense of Maccabi Petach Tikva, with Maccabi Haifa climbing above Beitar Jerusalem into fourth place. In that case Maccabi's first play-off match will be at home to Hapoel Ra'anana, but their encounters against Ironi Kiryat Shmona and Hapoel Beer Sheva will be the same as in scenario 1. Maccabi's final match in this scenario will be yet another intriguing encounter against Beitar Jerusalem.
Gameweek |
Fixture |
Gameweek |
Fixture |
|
27 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Ra'anana |
32 |
Hapoel Ra'anana – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
|
28 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Ironi Kiryat Shmona |
33 |
Ironi Kiryat Shmona – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
|
29 |
Hapoel Beer Sheva – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
34 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Beer Sheva |
|
30 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Maccabi Haifa |
35 |
Maccabi Haifa – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
|
31 |
Beitar Jerusalem – Maccabi Tel Aviv |
36 |
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Beitar Jerusalem |
