2024-03-27 10:00:18
Although in the result test the dream of the youth team up to the age of 19 to reach the Euros was shattered, but Israeli football has a quality generation with players who are able to go far in the future. One of them is Lior Kasa, the 18-year-old midfielder, who Maccabi Haifa signed in January for one million euros from Hapoel Jerusalem after a battle for his services with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Lior Casa has had a crazy year. From playing in Hapoel Jerusalem in the National Youth League, he jumped to the seniors and in a short time also attracted the attention of the two empires of Israeli football, until he signed in the ranks of the national champion. Now the young talent spoke in an exclusive interview to ONE about not qualifying for the Euros in the youth team, the move from Jerusalem to Haifa, the expectations from him, the call-up to the Israel national team and the future.
“We are disappointed with the result, of course we wanted to be in the Euros,” he said Lior Casa After the losses to Montenegro and Norway. “It started in Montenegro when we conceded a goal in the 95th minute. Then against Norway we tried to go up and play as well as possible, trying to ignore what happened in the game against Montenegro, but we missed that game too. We conceded a quick goal, trailed them, conceded a second goal, tried again To come to the second half and forget what happened, but it didn’t work. In any case, I’m proud of my friends, we gave 100 percent and did everything we could to be there.”
Lior Casa (Omari Stein)
What didn’t work for you on the grass?
“We weren’t bad. We had a lot of chances in the game, but we didn’t take advantage of them. It happened to us a few times in the game against Montenegro as well. I don’t know if what was decisive was a lack of concentration or a lack of experience, but we trailed behind our opponent, we chased them and then everything went It’s more difficult for us. We were in a good position and started well, but the dramatic goal against Montenegro and the quick goal against Norway threw us off balance.”
During the game against Norway there was a pro-Palestinian demonstration. Did you feel the hostile atmosphere outside the stadium?
“We felt it, yes. In the previous games it wasn’t like that. This time in Norway there were demonstrations outside, we heard that stones and flares were thrown, but we tried to ignore it as much as possible because we came to play football. After the game we stayed a little longer in the stadium because of that, but in the end everything was fine “.
How hard is it to play during wartime?
“It’s not easy at all, but we came with the goal of making the whole country happy and we tried to do everything possible to make that happen. It wasn’t easy to play here under this pressure, but even if we didn’t manage to meet the goal we wanted to achieve, it’s another thing that was added to our experience.”
Lior Casa (Omari Stein)
Do you believe that in the coming years the youth team will return there?
“I really believe in it. Even yesterday morning I believed that we would do it, despite the situation at home, because there are good people here, a good generation, professionals who work in an excellent way, who set great goals and know exactly what they want to achieve in the coming years. It will happen.”
Until recently you were a fairly unknown actor. It is said that Ofir Haim recognized your potential in the tests for the Israeli national teams – and suddenly now you are in the youth team, which did great things earlier in the Euro and the World Cup. What is it like to work with such a coach?
“It’s great fun. I came from Hapoel Jerusalem, which played in the second youth league, but the national team believed in me, they saw that I work hard and that I have a path. They even took me to the qualifying tournament in Croatia at the beginning of the season, which is a big upgrade that gave me confidence to also show myself in the Premier League with Hapoel Jerusalem Everything started there, from that moment I gained confidence and progressed. It’s not easy to come from the second youth league and within a few weeks to play in the national team and with players from the Premier League.”
Everything happened quickly, you made a jump of several steps in six months.
“Yes, it came very quickly. I didn’t expect it, but it’s part of the path I went through, a path in which there were some unexpected things. I still have room to improve, I haven’t done anything in football yet, I’m just at the beginning of my journey and I’m only 18 years old. Undoubtedly, I still have room to develop in the future. I am happy that the team of the national team believes in me, go through the games with me, emphasize what I need to improve in order to improve in the international games, and in the end it improves me from game to game. I am happy that I always have the support that I I need to, so I can send a message to the team members, talk to them about the things I need to focus on and know where I stand. It helps.”
Ofir Haim (Football Association)
After the big move to Maccabi Haifa, there are a lot of expectations from you. Does it weigh you down or do you manage to handle it?
“I’ve always dreamed of making a leap like this. It’s true that it happened to me early and quickly, but after it happened I need to know how to deal with the expectations of me. There will always be expectations of me. Even if I were to make such a transition in a year or two, there would be expectations of me.” .
The expectations also match the price tag that Maccabi Haifa paid for you. A million euros is a lot of money.
“Yes, unequivocally. Like I said, you have to know how to deal with it. The most important thing is to keep modesty and stay on the ground because the price tag is just a number in the end. I still have to prove myself on the grass because I haven’t done anything yet. As time goes by, I feel that I am improving and learning, but also that I have more ways to work and more places to improve. This will happen from game to game. Fortunately, there are people around me who help me – whether it’s in Maccabi Haifa, the Israeli national team, or in my personal life. I think every The only time is how to move forward.”
A lot of people claim that you remind a little of Eduardo Camabinga from Real Madrid, if it’s your style of play, handling the ball, dribbling, even the big jump you made at a young age and also the fact that you are able to play in several positions. What is your favorite position on the field?
“Kamabinga is a great player, but with all due respect I have just started my journey. I don’t consider the comparisons, it is still very far from me. I will remain humble. Personally I prefer to play in the 50:50 midfielder position, but wherever they put me on the field I will play And I’ll do my best. I’m at that age where you have to work hard and stay humble.”
Florentino Perez and Eduardo Camabinga (Real Madrid official website)
How do you see the move to Maccabi Haifa, which is a team that wanted titles? Is it a challenge for you because you feel you have to deliver results, or do you come to the team knowing you need time to adjust?
“The move to Maccabi Haifa is something that came out of nowhere because I made a sharp entrance to a big team in the middle of the season. The people, the players, and the professional staff received me well, they let me get into things quickly and I know that I have to give everything in the games. Being in the championship fight with Maccabi Haifa is something crazy For me it came suddenly, but an actor who wants to have a successful career has to know how to deal with all the demands, all the expectations and also step into big shoes.”
Both Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv wanted to sign you, how did you see this struggle when you are right in the middle?
“I was excited by this whole situation. In the end I chose what was good for me and right for me, I didn’t make any comparison between the two clubs. I chose what I thought would be the right place for me and I’m happy with the choice I made.”
Lior Casa (Radad Jabara)
Does it excite you to play in front of a big crowd?
“Of course, what a question. It’s a great privilege to play in the Sami Ofer Stadium with this amazing crowd. It’s not obvious, I’ve dreamed of it all my life and it’s great fun. I’ll do everything to show these fans what I’m capable of and I hope I’ll be able to make them happy.”
What is your biggest ambition for the future?
“Right now I’m at Maccabi Haifa, thinking about Maccabi Haifa and wanting to help Maccabi Haifa achieve its goals. Maccabi Haifa is a European club in every way, just by looking at the team’s achievements in the Champions League in the past, how it played this season in the Europa League and how it reached the round of 16 of the Conference League – That says everything. It is not obvious to be in such a club that achieves such achievements. That is why I say that it is a European club for everything and I am sure that together we will go far, but I have to prove to my coach first of all what I am worth, so that I can get the opportunity to play and improve . step by step”.
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#humble #havent