Summary: Maccabi Tel Aviv - Hapoel Jerusalem 1:2/Sport1
A year and nine months have passed since the last time Maccabi Haifa lost a league game at home.
Gabi Kanikovski remembers well that game, somewhere in May 2022, in which he started in the lineup and helped Maccabi Tel Aviv win 1:3 and make sure that the Greens did not celebrate a championship against their biggest rival.
Tonight (Monday, 20:30) he will go up to the lawn in Haifa in a completely different situation.
This time Maccabi Haifa is in the chasing position, and a victory for Maccabi Tel Aviv may give it the boost it needs on the way to the championship.
"Every game is a completely new game. I'm happy that we took the Toto Cup, we lost to them in the league, so we're coming to get these 3 points back and continue forward, like we've done up until now," says Kanikowski about the meeting with the Greens, which will be the third in three weeks.
How does a player feel before a season game compared to a game against a team that is not competing for the championship?
"There is always excitement when the stands are full and the rivalry is so great. But you have to remember that this is another game on the road. Against Hapoel Jerusalem we scored 3 equally important points, and we have to take 3 points tomorrow as well. It is clear that there is a rivalry here because we are fighting with them for the title, there is more pressure And excitement from every game, but the 3 points at the end are the same 3 points."
Revenge time.
Kanikowski against Seif in the previous meeting in Bloomfield/Bernie Ardov
After scoring the winning goal against Hapoel Jerusalem, you saluted towards the sky.
What goes through your mind when you make such a tribute to your friends who fell in the war?
"This is not an easy time for anyone. Everyone in the country is going through difficulties and challenges. I lost two friends who were like brothers to me. I mainly play for their families and for myself, but when I step on the field I have to remember the team goals."
How hard is it to play football in this situation?
On the one hand you are in a championship fight, on the other hand the head is not necessarily here.
"My wife told me, 'Take these 90 minutes and try to disconnect and do what you love.' It's pretty good right now."
What adjustments do you need to make for the game in Haifa?
"I don't think we need to make any adjustments, we need to play our football, which we played all season and led us to the first place in the table. In the game against them in Bloomfield, we were a little panicked, we didn't move the ball well, but we just need to play our game."
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"Not an easy time for anyone."
Kanikovski dedicates the winning goal against Hapoel Jerusalem to fallen friends/Barney Ardov
You have gone through several teams in your career and you are currently probably at your peak, also in terms of numbers.
"I think I'm capable of giving much more. I want to learn a lot more from this team that contributes so much to the club at the moment. I just want to learn and improve. I'm not looking at a career record or the number of goals or assists, I'm focused solely on getting the next victory" .
Maccabi Tel Aviv has already added several players in this window.
What is the effect of this on the group?
"I think that, first of all, this gives the coach a lot of options. This is probably what he needed. I know Younes Melda and Raz Shlomo from Netanya, and before they are good players they are good people - and that is very important for the dressing room. I hope for them that they get down to business as soon as possible , and let them see what they learned in Belgium."
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Maccabi Tel Aviv in football
Gabi Kanikowski