One of the most important players, and one of those who made Maccabi Tel Aviv who it was last year, was Jair Amador. The brake that led the best defense in the league left Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer for personal reasons, but remained a yellow fan. In an exclusive interview with the sports channel, he talks for the first time about leaving, compliments Patrick van Leiben, refers to the Noble and Micah saga and also talks about the possibility that his good friend, Andre Geralds, will return to Israel.
Amador plays today in Zaragoza and was supposed to help her advance to the first division in Spain, however he suffered an injury and his team so far is considered the disappointing one of the season as it is in the penultimate place in the league with 17 points in 20 rounds.
“I returned to my country and everything is much simpler for me here personally, however the situation in Zaragoza is complex and not simple,” Amador explains, “We started the season and we are at the bottom. It is not simple, but in football what determines is how you finish and not how you started. “Hopefully we will finish the season well. Overall, I am very pleased here.”
You had a difficult first season at Maccabi Tel Aviv, when only in the second season did they finally see why the club insisted on you
“My first season at Maccabi Tel Aviv was difficult, because I did not know a word of English. I had a hard time, I moved to a new country and did not know how I would feel there. It is a new club with a new culture. Everything was difficult, it took me a while to adapt, but later I already understood the language better, I learned English and got along very well with my teammates. “
“In the second season I made a change in my mind,” he explained, “I wanted people to know my best version, and in the end that’s what it was.”
How do you sum up the period at Maccabi Tel Aviv?
“It was a very rewarding experience for me on a personal and professional level. Professionally, you can see how many degrees I achieved in 2 seasons. I take with me the experience of a new culture I knew, my time at Maccabi Tel Aviv contributed to me personally and my family, despite all the difficulties. .
Was there any chance you would stay in the group?
“There was no chance I would stay. I had to leave personally. My family pressured me to leave. Not because I was bad, on the contrary, my season was great. I felt great and acclimatized to the club, connected with my teammates and style of play. It was hard to leave, but the family’s desire “It was a priority, there was no room for personal desire. My children and my partner did not feel comfortable. I had to make a decision and I decided it was time to leave. I left and tried to make the life of my children and partner easier.”
It took a while for you to reach an agreement to leave
“The discussions with Maccabi Tel Aviv about leaving were long. I wanted to leave, they wanted me to stay, probably after such a good season. It makes sense that a club would want to keep its assets. I decided to leave and finally we reached an agreement that was acceptable to both parties. “.
This season Maccabi Tel Aviv is experiencing difficulties, the defense is not the same defense, and so are the results
“I continue to follow the team, when I do, I also watch the games. I have a great love for Maccabi Tel Aviv. I enjoyed the experience there. I have friends there and I follow its progress this season. It is not an easy season, there were many changes, players changed. And the coach has changed. “
“The style has changed, the method has changed, so the team takes time to adapt to these changes and it is more difficult than expected. In the end, it is a big club, a club of champions and he will fight to the end. If the team scores points in the next games, it will get closer to Maccabi Haifa. The situation. “
We see the defense of Maccabi Tel Aviv this year, compared to last year, it is a significant change
“We had something special last year. Together, as a defensive quartet, with goalkeeper and full-back Dan Glazer, we all collaborated excellently. That was the deciding factor. We were all very focused, very attentive to the defensive and offensive demands, because Maccabi Tel Aviv is a team. Very offensive. “
“Defensively, not only the back line worked, but the whole team, and that’s a lot thanks to coach Ivica and the professional team.
They made us work excellently defensively and offensively. The achievements are the product of everyone’s hard work, of the coach, of the players, of the team, of everyone, we all worked together and created a cohesive bunch and strong defense. “
As you left, Ivica also chose to leave
“He left for a big club in England to progress. He’s been quite successful, but there’s the dynamic. There are impatient clubs, and once there are some bad results, change coach and think it’s in the club’s favor. I think he’s a great coach, one of the best I’ve had. “He is a very orderly and meticulous coach, he has reached successes and will continue to do so in the future, because he knows very well what he is doing, what he likes to see and knows how to work. He will continue to succeed because he has qualities.”
Do you see a scenario where Ivica returns to Israel?
“I do not think his return to Israel will be a step backwards for him. Reaching Maccabi or another team is not a step back, because his time in England is over and he needs to look to the future. If he has the opportunity to return to Israel and he thinks it is right for him, then he will try That reached them or even bigger ones. “
“He is a coach who is well suited to Spanish football, he just needs to solve the language issue and learn it. It is a small matter that if he solves it, he will be able to coach in the future in Spain.”
You know Patrick Van in Greece, do you think he will succeed as the coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv?
Why won’t Swan Leven succeed? He got a chance, got some wins and won the derby. In the end the results are crucial. This is how it is in football, if he continues to win, he will continue in the role. If he continues like this, he will hold on to it for a long time. He is suitable for an artist. “
One of the players closest to you at Maccabi Tel Aviv was Andre Geralds, now there is talk that he is on his way to Maccabi Haifa. Where does that stand, from what you know?
“I do not know what is happening to him, I did not talk to him for a few days and I did not get to ask him about the issue. I think it is good for him in Cyprus, I do not know if he wants to return. If he decides to return, it will probably be better for him.”
“I will not be angry with him if he signs with Maccabi Haifa. It is his business and everyone should take care of his future. He loves Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, but this is football, if he cannot return to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa is a good option. It is his decision And we’ll see what happens. “
You know Omar Azili and Dor Micha well. Maccabi Tel Aviv has decided to say goodbye to them, now it is possible that they will return to Israel. What do you think about the treatment of them by Maccabi Tel Aviv?
“This is a very complex situation. We all know what happened and the reasons why they were released from Maccabi Tel Aviv. The club also has its own desires. I do not know too much about the details legally, I just know they won and their case was closed. I think they are excellent players and excellent players. Be in big clubs.
“Before you are a player, you are a person. I will not go into too much detail, but the club has made a decision. Time has passed, they have reached a legal decision on their issue, and they have to decide now what is right for them.”
“The door of the club closed to them unfortunately, and more for Micha that it is the club of his life. If they have the opportunity to return to their country, to their home, to be closer to family, there they will feel better and more comfortable and they will display higher ability.
“If they come back, there will be a lot of people who will not be happy to see them, but in the end, they will have to decide what is good for them. If BS, Maccabi Haifa, Betar or any other team wants them, they will have to reach an agreement with them. Micha And nobles look to their future, and it is legitimate for them to play in a team that is not Maccabi Tel Aviv.
You played with talented players in Maccabi Tel Aviv, who do you think can fit into teams in senior leagues in Europe?
“Dor Peretz has a lot of qualities and can play in Europe. Dan Glazer is also a player I like very much. Golsa can play in Europe and so must Yonatan Cohen, but Yonatan needs to be more focused, more consistent, and then he can be a great player. If they want, they can “To leave Israel and move to Europe and experiment there. If they did not experience, they did not know where they could go.”
Is there a scenario where you will return to Maccabi Tel Aviv?
“In football it is impossible to know, but my and Zaragoza’s situation is complex, we have to run from the bottom. I wish next season we can play in the top league, anyway, we will always fight to get as high as possible, and if we do, it will be better for me, my family and the club. “.
“I never close the door, ever. I finished the second season excellently, I was very pleased, it was a rewarding experience. I faced problems, but you never know, it’s football.”
