Recap: Maccabi Tel Aviv - Hapoel Petah Tikva 0:2/Sport1
"We're happy so far, but there's definitely a long way to go," Maccabi Tel Aviv CEO Ben Mansford said of the Yellows' season opener. The team was hosted at the Euro Drive branch in Glilot on the special sales day of the club's sponsor for the past ten years, and the CEO took the time to discuss the changes this season at the club.
Mansford was asked about his opinion on Maccabi Tel Aviv's season opener, and replied: "This is just the beginning. You in the media, the fans, us – everyone judges ourselves just based on where we are at the end of the season. And that won't change. So it's a start. I think we've changed the atmosphere, we've changed the energy, and we're happy so far. There's still a lot of work to do, and a very long way to go until the end of the season."
"We've had a good start, but there's more we can do to improve, and I'm sure Robbie will push us forward." Mansford/Ariel Shalom
On expectations for a higher level from the team at the moment: "I don't want to talk about last season, but in terms of atmosphere and energy, and where we finished last season - Goldhar and Angelidis talked about how last season we had the quality to contend for the title, and it didn't happen. This year we expect to compete for the title. In terms of level, I'll let Robbie Keane and the professionals talk about it. But there is brotherhood here, in Kiryat Shalom. Even if you don't take championships or titles or Europe, that's all of us. So now we've had a good start, but there's more we can do to get better, and I'm sure Robbie will push us forward in trying to achieve that."
On the decision to sign Roi: "There's a lot of work being done behind the scenes, and I think it's important that we got stronger in all positions. We've had a good start, but there's more we can do to get better, and I'm sure Robbie will push us forward and a team needs that. We knew Daniel Peretz might move to Europe, so we tried to go for the best Israeli goalkeeper we could find. Some might want to know for sure if they would play. Roy heard that there was an offer from Maccabi Tel Aviv and said, 'Yes, where do we sign?' With this attitude and the desire to come, he fit, and I'm glad he got the opportunity, and he's dealing with the pressure, with two good goalkeepers blowing at the back of his neck, and that's Maccabi's way."
On Orlando Mosquera, the foreign goalkeeper who has not yet been partnered: "He's a very good goalkeeper. And we are pleased with him. There were teams that were interested in Tenenbaum recently but we didn't want to let him go, we have three good goalkeepers, and we'll let them fight for a place in the hope that Maccabi will benefit from it."
More in Walla!
The intriguing process of recycling metal packaging
In cooperation with Tamir Recycling Corporation
Can sweep the Yellows to a title like Ivich? Cain/Ariel Shalom
Can this group be compared to Ivić's first team? "When we succeeded with Ivić it was together, with hard work and good energy, and now there is good energy, and a good feeling. It's hard to compare the groups, because there are a lot of new components coming together. So ask me this question in May, and I'll give a better answer. Last time it was the Pivens, Hamtan Chouz, Dan Glazers - and now it's Harvey Revivoim, Dor Turgeman and Ido Shachar The young people who are trying to advance, we brought Osher Davida, which strengthens us in the sector of hungry Israelis, so there are similarities, but Ruby's style is different from Vladen's. But we won't be tested until May."
On Dan Glazer, and the departure of one of his favorite players: "Dan is a professional, a quality person, a good footballer, who wanted to play in Israel only for Maccabi. Every player wants to play. If Dan wanted to stay and fight for his place, everyone would be happy, but we respected his decision to say that if he didn't play the way he wanted, he would look for an opportunity in Greece. We reached understandings with him, and what is important is that we left the door open, he can always be part of the Maccabi family and come back. He will always be a part of us. When he arrives in Israel, I'd love to sit with him and hear from him, because I had a good time with this group and with the Glazer family."
- More on the subject:
- Maccabi Tel Aviv Football
- Ben Mansford
