Lior Rafalov in an interview with Sport1 ahead of Maccabi Haifa - Fiorentina/Sport1
Just before the first game against Fiorentina in the Round of 16 of the Conference League tonight (Thursday, 22:00, live broadcast on Sport1) in Budapest, Maccabi Haifa last night gave great news to its fans when it announced the extension of captain Lior Rafalov's contract for next season.
Following this, the 37-year-old midfielder, who will be one of the key players for the Greens against the Italian team as well, was interviewed by Shalich Sport1 in Hungary.
"I am very happy and excited to continue here for another season. Maccabi Haifa is the club where I grew up and I love playing for it so much," Rafalov said when asked how he made the decision to continue for another season.
"A lot of things together, on and off the field. Reconnecting with all the parties in the club. My family is also happy that we are continuing on this path and we have more goals to achieve this season."
Regarding the possibility that he will continue in a professional position at Maccabi Haifa after retirement, the contact replied: "These are things after that. I am all focused on my role as a footballer in the club, of course I have added value and responsibility for players in the dressing room in certain situations, but I am 100% in my role as a footballer."
there's no place like home.
Lior Rafalov/Maor Alxalsi
How do you challenge a team like Fiorentina: "It's a very high-quality team with a big budget. Every fan in Europe knows who Fiorentina is and what a strong league they play in. Of course they reached the final last season, I saw the game against West Ham and I'm a bit of an Italian league fan and I see. Looking forward to us A very difficult game tomorrow, we hope to make the adjustments and close the gap from them in the hope of a good result for the rematch."
Rafalov also addressed one of the main issues in Maccabi Haifa last week - the deduction of a point from its league balance in the decision of the association's tribunal: "There is a lot of anger, it hurts the game we all love and sportsmanship, especially when we are two rounds from the end of the regular season and it has an effect on the composition of the games in the playoffs. I have all the hope That it will be fixed and the better team will win."
The fans' part in the punishment: "I have no control over this or that fan, it's not my job to mess with them. The enforcement officials should deal with it and simply punish individually as is the case in the top leagues in Europe. Then I believe that the power of deterrence will be much greater."
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The green captain was asked about managing the workload in this arduous season, during which the Haifaites compete in three factories: "Fortunately, we have a large and high-quality staff, we can divide the forces and many players are partners in this journey. I hope we will continue to get good results, it is really a very difficult challenge and One of the toughest periods I've had in my career. You have to keep going, there's nothing to do."
Finally, Rafalov, who returned to Maccabi Haifa last summer after 12 successful years in Belgium, complimented his young and talented teammate who may also go abroad at the end of the season: "Anan Halaili is making a very big development, he still has a lot to develop.
He is a player with physical abilities, extremely talented.
It would be right for him to go out and develop even more."
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