Maccabi Haifa felt Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Beer Sheva breathing down their necks, but withstood the pressure and achieved an eighth victory in a row this evening (Monday) – 0:2 over Maccabi Netanya. Charon Sherry scored (54) and set up for Din David (78) to leave the Greens with a four-point advantage at the top, six days before they host Hapoel Beer Sheva in an intriguing top-of-the-table battle.
The crowd that remained in the stadium after the big mess in the stands cheered at the end of the game for captain Neta Lavi who entered as a substitute and called out to him: “Stay, stay”. The midfielder is expected to leave soon for the Japanese Gamba Osaka.
Barak Becher commented on this and said: “Neta has a very tempting offer. We are waiting for developments. He is a very important and significant player, he has a big part in the championships and the Champions League. We want his best, if it is financially we will let him leave. Right now, he is supposed to leave. Every Things are still not closed, we’ll use him. Kartsev? Can’t answer things I don’t know about. If there’s something to say, we’ll say it.”
Ready for Beer Sheva: Maccabi Haifa beat Maccabi Netanya 0:2
Beatings, tear gas and stun grenades: severe confrontations in the stands of Maccabi Haifa
Aviel Zargari may join the Maccabi Haifa squad when the window opens
Barak Bacher: “First of all, I will take the three points from this game. A victory on a difficult court against a difficult opponent. We had to get through the first half safely. I knew in the second half things would change, as the game developed I knew things would work. Luck of champions? I don’t know, we are round 15 Their goal was in the air, they easily got into situations. The change in formation was good, we could press more with two strikers and five in defense. Glad we were able to make an impact and win the game.”
On Dean David: “Happy that he scored, he was supposed to be substituted, fatigue. He helped us stop Netanya and happy that it helped us win the game.”
On the next match against Hapoel Be’er Sheva: “Good game, a team with momentum. I have no doubt that against a team that is much better. There are three very strong teams, it seems to be a three-way battle. We have to win games like this where we are less good. You can’t know what will happen In the future, our goal is to win and continue to escape.”
Dolev Hazizawho returned to play after almost three months: “Very exciting. Happy to be back and feel the team and the crowd. I was injured quite lightly, I thought it wasn’t too bad. It turns out that I ruptured a tendon after I tried to run again. It took some time and I’m sure that from now on I’ll get back in shape as soon as possible. I was very upset not to play in the last two games in the Champions League, but I am doing everything to get back to the form I was in. Those who know me know that I work hard.”
On moving abroad: “Moving from a team to a European one, it has to be a big club because Maccabi Haifa is a Champions League team. I’m happy to be here. There is no team or league that I am aiming for, if a bigger club comes than Maccabi Haifa.”
On the imminent departure of Neta Lavi: “He has been my captain for four years. An important figure in the dressing room. Every time he plays, he gives peace. Neta Borg is a significant screw, and if he passes I wish him all the best in the world. I will be happy for him. I hope he stays, but If he leaves I will hug him.”
Ran Kozhochcoach of Maccabi Netanya: “I don’t think we play naively. We had a good game, but in the end we have to translate into goals and we didn’t do it, and Maccabi Haifa took advantage of it. I think it was a good game by us against Maccabi Haifa, we conceded an accidental goal who hurt the player. All this fuss is unnecessary. We are a good team, not at the level of Haifa, which is the best in Israel, but good. The six in Teddy was too attacking style. First of all, I always play attacking football, it does not come at the expense of the defense or at the expense of the results. We Even with two victories since I arrived, not only losses, but also in cups.”
On the credit he received as a coach: “I feel comfortable staying here. I think the fuss about going with Benny Lem or staying is unnecessary. I am a system person here. I tried to prevent him from making the decision to resign, but I don’t feel that I did anything wrong. I was here a year ago My son has arrived and I will continue. We have a squad that needs strengthening. You have to understand that there are four senior players not on the squad with injuries. He is good, but we have to get stronger.”
On Aden Kartsev’s candidacy for Maccabi Haifa: “It’s not my business, it’s a matter for the management. I will state my wishes, but in the end it’s decisions that are made at higher levels.”
Itamar Nitzan: “I’m not satisfied that we didn’t manage to get points. The game was completely equal. We didn’t play scared football. We can be satisfied with the way we played. If we continue on this path, I have no doubt that we’ll get to the places we wanted to go. We’re going through a roller coaster and only the best can To face such a rollercoaster. We played football to win and that means everything.”
As mentioned, Maccabi Haifa will host Hapoel Beer Sheva on Sunday for the main game of the 16th round, while Maccabi Netanya will already play away on Saturday against Hapoel Tel Aviv.