Grechkin: "Back to Israel right now is not on the agenda" Israel today

At a time when quite a few legionnaires are returning to Israel, the defender "wants to exhaust Europe" • On the difficulties in Syria: "Feels foreign even though I speak the language" • The Ukrainian League: "Good from the Premier League" • On Solomon: "Star" • And Betar: " Out of proportion "

• Grechkin vs. Shakhtar.

  "They are from the lions of Europe"

  Photography: 

  Zoria Luhansk, official website

In the previous transfer window, we witnessed a mass influx of Israeli players into the various leagues in Europe.

In the current window it can be said that the trend has been reversed, as many legionnaires are returning to Israel.

In contrast, Max Grechkin, who moved to the Ukrainian Zoria Luhansk in the summer and encountered quite a few difficulties along the way, does not intend for a moment to give up on the European dream.

"I started the season well in Ukraine," Grechkin says in an interview with Israel Today. The situation disabled me for two and a half months. "

The injury in question was tragic for Grechkin and shattered the dream for which he decided to move to Ukraine.

"Before I moved to Zoria I knew I was going to a place with financial risk, but I also knew it was a chance to get world-class exposure because the team played in the Europa League," the defender says. "I can not describe how much I was hurt two weeks before the game against Leicester. "I made the move to reach this moment, and in the end not to play against these teams ... the pain is great. I was happy for the friends who defeated Leicester and also AEK Athens, but in my heart the pain was great. But there are stronger things than us."

If we take Shakhtar and Dynamo out of the equation, is the Ukrainian league better than ours?

"The Ukrainian league does not have the sexiest name in the world, but I was pleasantly surprised by the level. The league is better than the Premier League because of a combination of style of play and intensity in training. I played against small teams and was shocked - I thought they would bunker and throw balls, but they pressed us. "I had the highest level of training in the country, and it is still not the same as what I experienced in Ukraine. Three times a week there are double and old trainings in the complex."

How much did it help you to speak the language?

"Before the move I knew it would be one of my advantages and that I would understand the requirements of the team, but in my mentality I am Israeli, so even though I know the language and understand everything I still felt like a foreign player. I always felt like I was in a foreign country."

"Shakhtar favorite against Maccabi Tel Aviv"

Grechkin is currently in the country due to the winter break in the Ukrainian league.

His future in Zoria is not clear due to economic problems that arose in the group, but he clarifies: "I do not regret for a moment the decision I made to go to Europe, it was the right step for me professionally.

"I read about the publications regarding Betar, but we did not receive any offer.

I want to make the most of Europe.

I am currently in Zoria and do not know what will happen in the future, but returning to Israel at the moment is not on the agenda.

There may also be offers from other groups in Europe. "

Although Grechkin has not played for Betar Jerusalem for half a year, he is very strong in matters and is in contact with Liran Rotman, Shai Konstantin, Idan Vered and Eliran Atar. "I am a Betar fan, I do not miss a game," he says, and tries Explain what does not work for Jerusalemites this season: "Slobo and Barda are excellent coaches who have had amazing seasons at Maccabi Netanya. They came up with the diamond method that Netanya did very well, but in Betar it went a little harder for them.

"In my opinion, they insisted on this method too much. They saw that it was no longer going, but still tried and tried to adapt the players to the method, and only in the last three weeks have they switched to playing in a different 4: 3: 3 method and suddenly see a more energetic and intense team. "Apparently the players on the roster were less suited to their method."

Betar finished in third place last season, maybe it was a mistake to say goodbye to Roni Levy?

"I think Roni Levy is one of the best Israeli coaches there is. Not everyone thought last season was a success, but I do not agree with that. We won the Toto Cup, no matter what they say - it is still a title. Despite such and such losses and the fact that we were far from Maccabi "Ah, we were always stable and always at the top.

This season proves how difficult it is to succeed in Betar, and in my opinion Roni did succeed last season. "

Could it all be due to disproportionate expectations?

"I agree that sometimes things go awry in Betar, but Betar is a huge club in Israeli football that must strive to win titles every season. It is impossible to build a team that will win the championship in two minutes. For Betar to be able to face Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa on Championship and start dreaming, it's a process that takes two years. It sucks to see Betar lose and in ninth place, but Moshe Celebrates has good intentions.

It takes a little more time. "

What do you think about the rush with Sheikh Hemed bin Khalifa?

"It's an interesting story and there's always news around this subject. I really do not know what's going on there, but I think the intention of celebrating is good. He wants to take Betar two steps forward and is doing everything to have the economic power to get there.

In what ways does a celebrant do it? I bet less, but his intention is only good. "

How much does Solomon Manor make headlines in Ukraine?

"We look at Manor in Ukraine the way we look at him in the country. He is a football star. We saw what he did against Real Madrid and in general, in all the games in the Champions League. We have a player here who has not been seen in our country for many years, and I am sure he will reach the highest levels. "He will move to Arsenal. He is a cannon and will only continue like this."

Maccabi has a chance against Shakhtar in the Europa League?

"Shakhtar from the Lions of Europe. This is a team that gets a lot of the knockout stages in the Champions League, and they were relegated to the Europa League just because they were in a lethal home in the Champions League. I very much hope Maccabi Tel Aviv will have a hard life and maybe get through them.

They are favorites to reach the semi-finals and maybe even win the Europa League this year. "