Paco, some would say the greatest coach in the history of Tel Aviv, stays with his family in disastrous Valencia, but maintains his characteristic optimism • In an interview with Israel Today, he talks about the difficult situation in Spain, tries to predict the day after, and interprets Ibich and Goldie

• Estern. "Can't do anything against the Corona"

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  Ami fat

One of the greatest coaches in the history of the Maccabi Tel Aviv has one prominent man who managed to do what no one could do before - the Spanish Paco Eastern, who in the 2014/15 season led the Yellows to Treble and made the club the only Israeli football to win all the titles that season.

Since those magical days, Paco has come a long way. He was able to coach Spanish Valencia Las Palmas and two senior league teams in Mexico. At that time, Maccabi Tel Aviv had trouble recovering from his season and did not win the championship until last season. Currently, the coach is under closure at his home in Corona-beaten Spain, and in an exclusive interview with Israel Today, he is broadcasting the optimism that is so typical of him.

"My family is fine, we were lucky that all those close together now need patience," he says. "The situation with us in Valencia is relatively under control, but we are quarantined, so it's hard to know what's really going on outside. There are other areas where chaos is rampant.

Esteren celebrates Maccabi uniforms. "Follows the results" // Photo: Alan Shiber

"We all need to stay in complete isolation at home for at least two more weeks. I don't think it's good to keep up to date with what's happening in Spain and the rest of the world. We are responsible, staying home and caring for ourselves and our relatives. All the communities and communities around us - it reaches over 400 dead. "

How scary to be in Spain now?

"In truth, I don't feel the fear because as long as you stay home - you're protected. The distress is in the hospitals and the entire health care system in the country, it's the worst. Their difficulty is great. They are also on the front line and suffer the most. And a few days before, those were the hardest days of our health care system. A lot of people were hospitalized then intensive care, but slowly things are improving. "

You are relatively calm to someone whose country more than 10,000 people have died.

"I try not to change my mood too much. In the end we can't do anything against the Corona, except to stay home and deal with the situation, as we are being asked. Our community is well obeyed by instructions, and I think it is wrong to worry about something that is not there Under our control. "

Goldie. "An example of every child who wants to be a footballer" // Photo: Alan Shiber

You've coached Valencia, which some of its players and staff have been infected with. What are the numbers?

"Some of the club people did get infected. But as you know, this virus does not affect people who are generally healthy. The players Eskiel Garai and Jose Gaia have already recovered, and the other people who are infected are feeling well. Especially strong. Apparently their immune system is strong enough. They described having suffered from dizziness and runny nose, but nothing more. "

In Valencia, were they angry about the match against Atletico in Italy? Call this game a "biological bomb."

"It may well have been a mistake to allow this game to be held, but the answer is no answer. We need to concentrate only on what can be done right now and forget about the things that were in the past."

Do you think football will return this season?

"I think most leagues will make an effort to end the season. If football doesn't come back, the financial damage that will cause teams is huge, so I think everyone will take part to make it happen. Talk about playing in July-August, and then maybe next season will open in October. I heard that Rick Perry, the former CEO of Liverpool, claims that not only should we think about how to end the season in five to six weeks, but about a 15 to 18 month gamut that ends both this season and next season. This way you can go back to playing football. In my opinion this is what will happen if things do not deteriorate. "

Can you predict what football will look like the day after the Corona?

"The Corona crisis will affect football all over the world, as it affects all businesses. We see that all players, even the superstars, cut wages. I'm sure the teams will look at budgets, signings, contracts and coaches differently. Economic, so it's sure that in the near future there will be no player transfers of 100 million euros. "

"Ibich? The results speak for themselves"

Although Spanish is Spanish and lives in Valencia, he is more closely associated with Liverpool, remembering his time as assistant to coach Rafa Benites. Last summer, he closed out a circle as he interpreted the Champions League final in which the Reds first won since that historic final against Milan in the 2004/04 season.

"I don't think Liverpool is the new alternative to Barcelona," says Paco, "in their dominance of the league they are reminiscent of Barcelona a couple of years ago, but the style of play does not really matter. There is no big difference between them. 2014 Liverpool's success is a combination of several things. The owner, who has a baseball team in the US, has improved the scouting system and brought his knowledge from the US, the signings they have made in recent years have been great and of course has the effect that Jürgen Klopp has brought to the club ".

What didn't work for you when you trained in Valencia?

"I didn't get a 100% chance there, but you have to look at the overall picture. I took the team in 2016 when it was in a very difficult situation at the bottom, but we achieved great results, including a magnificent win over Barcelona in Camp Nou, a victory over Sevilla and a few other consecutive wins that the team did not achieve all season, we ended up in the middle of the table.

"The following season we had four losses, but they didn't have the vision to leave me, and I actually had the time to make the changes. Every club has tough periods, and situations like that have to come together. It didn't happen to me in Valencia. The easiest solution is to fire Coach and think things will work differently, but most times things don't change. "

Do you follow Maccabi Tel Aviv?

"I am following the results. Last season was amazing, and they were very dominant last season too. Maccabi's championship last season was with Style, mainly because of the huge difference in the table. It was one of the best seasons in the club's history. I did not know their coach Vladimir Ivich But I think his results speak for themselves. The Maccabi Tel Aviv season is undefeated (in the league; SHA), which means a lot about the coach. "

How do you see Zahavi's progress? Should he leave China?

"Eran needs to answer that question. He needs to think about everything: family, place, football and how he will manifest in the same league. But the truth is that if there's anyone capable of fulfilling any dream, it's Eran Goldby. His hunger and passion. That hunger brought him to the level he is in today, and not only did he become the top scorer in China. And in general, he is an example of every Israeli kid who wants to be a footballer. "

A year and a half ago you refused a bid from the Beitar Jerusalem. Is there any chance you will come back?

"What happened with Betar was simple: I got a call from them asking me if I would be interested in coaching the team. I couldn't because I was under contract in my team in Mexico. I am a man who tries to honor his contract until the end, so I immediately responded negatively. "