Yorgos Donis, the new Maccabi Tel Aviv coach, spoke for the first time since he was appointed to the position: "It is very important to get used to the club's DNA" • Ahead of the game against Riga tomorrow (Wednesday, 20:00) in the Champions League qualifiers: "I have experience in games like this . One game is like a final "

• Donis. Comes to continue Ivica

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  Ami fat

Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Latvia tomorrow (Wednesday, 20:00) for the first round match of the Champions League qualifiers. Remember, there will be no rematch this year and the champion must win to keep the Champions' dream alive. Yellows new coach Yorgos Donis will make his debut on the lines, and tonight he spoke at the first press conference since being appointed to the post.

"I'm very happy to be here," the coach said in his opening remarks, "it's a big challenge for me and my team. I tried to learn everything about the club, about his DNA. It's very important to get used to the club's DNA. We've been here for almost a week, "When we started negotiations we started watching a lot of games. I formed an opinion about the players and the team, there are good capabilities and a good attitude. The goals in Europe are very important to us."

On the opponent, the coach said: "I know everything about Riga. It is very important for us to respect the opponent, all its advantages and disadvantages. She has a lot of foreigners, especially in the offensive part. They played a lot of official games, which is an advantage for them."

On adapting to Maccabi: "Before I arrived I knew that in the first week we would have to worry about a lot of things. Get to know the players, analyze the players and get to know people. The spirit in the team is very good, the players work hard. Patrick (Van Leven) did a good job "And give them some tactical things from training. It was very important for me to get information about the players, Patrick and Barak gave me their opinion. Every coach has a different approach. I want to be fair with the players and I need time to learn them."

On the fact that there is no rematch: "I have experience in games like this. One game is like a final. We have to prepare not only to play good football, but as a final and the details are very important. We have to be focused, not give a lot of things to the opponent. "Because in games like this, when you have a chance, you have to win."

The decision to come to Maccabi:"When I started the negotiations with Maccabi, the way they approached me was very important to me. Money is not important, but the feeling, the feeling about future cooperation. From the first moment I felt it, I analyzed things related to football. With Ivica they did a good job and won two championships. I'm not here to destroy what was but to pursue it and contribute my ideas and maybe move one step further. We are here to work hard and fight for everything. "