Last night Maccabi Haifa lost their first game in the group stage of the Champions League, 0:2 against Benfica.
Today (Wednesday) the group will return to Israel, with mixed feelings.
On the one hand, the team's good first half, but in the end conceding two quick goals in the second half that resulted in a loss.
"This is a very high level," admitted captain Neta Lavi at the end of the game, "a game at the highest possible level and every detail is important.
"We tried to do our best, we reached several situations and I hope we will continue to improve in the future."
Lavi added: "It's a big challenge, it's fun, but you have to be focused for 90 minutes. I try to do it to the best of my ability and it's fun to see that you can compete at these levels. Of course you leave disappointed because of the loss, but that's the way it is and face forward to sit down."
The green captain commented on the fact that he chose to come to Lisbon and miss his eldest son's covenant and said: "It was a joint decision by me and my wife who supports me and told me that she wants me to be here. We of course made the covenant because the correct mitzvah is eight days after the birth. I came here, I love it very much the club and happy that everyone appreciates it."
Neta Lavi and Abdoulai Sak in front of Rafa Silva, photo: Reuters
On the question of whether he is underappreciated, he clarified: "I always try to do the best for my team. Sometimes I talk more and see less. In the end, if everyone appreciates me, then the media will also appreciate from the sidelines."
Lavi said about the game of Dolev Khaziza: "Khaziza is a very close friend. He is in a crazy "Zone" and we just need to help him progress in the game against Benfica. He was good, he had very good actions and will continue to help us as a team."
Rakek almost to Maccabi Haifa, photo: Reuters
The defender Shawn Goldberg also summed up his first game together with the two new defenders, Dylan Betobinsika and Abdoulaye Sek: "In the first half, we stood up defensively. We don't know each other very well, but it was obvious that there was a defense with each other, and it looked good. I'm sure that later on It will go and look better."
About his part in the first goal conceded by the Greens, Goldberg said: "It's hard for me to analyze the first goal. From what I remember, there were several players in the box, but again you have to see to tell. We are proud to be here, we made a beautiful and impressive way to get here. We are at the highest level that exists and they saw it."
On the situation at home and the desire to get points despite the strong opponents, he said: "We are a team that always wants to play their game and we will make every effort to get better results. We have received a very difficult home and very high-quality teams. We will always come to play positive football, we will not get canceled, I hope it will come reflected in the results later on."
Shawn Goldberg thanks the green crowd,
The French defender Dylan Betobinsica spoke to the French "Laquip" and said: "I was very excited to take part in a game like this. This is the biggest game of my life. I didn't feel tense or nervous but I was very excited. It was a good opportunity for us to make history so we are a little disappointed."
Batinsica added: "After the first half we saw that we had a chance to score and we missed this opportunity that we had and if you don't score you might concede and they killed the game within five minutes."
He also added: "I was already in this stadium with my previous team but I didn't play because I was on the bench so I was very excited to be on the grass today. I've only been at Maccabi Haifa for a few days but I'm very happy in this club and I recommend all French players to come and play in Israel because really the conditions Great, the stadium, the training complex of Maccabi Haifa is like in the first league in France."
Benfica celebrates at the expense of Maccabi Haifa, photo: Reuters
Defender Pierre Corneau, who did not play due to an injury, also told the French media: "I wasn't fit, I thought I could play but the doctor told me it was better for me to rest. After Souf Podgrano was injured, the doctor came and said to me, 'You see, it would have been better for you to rest because It could have been a similar injury."
About the acclimatization in Maccabi Haifa he said: "I am very happy in Maccabi Haifa, there is a great atmosphere here. I believe that I will be able to play as early as next week against Paris Saint-Germain. I was sad today because my parents came especially from France to Lisbon to see me play but I did not play, that made me sad."
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