PSV does not enjoy an overly successful period, with the loss of valuable points in the championship race and relegation from the Europa League. But at least personally, Eran Zehavi Definitely in his best shape since landing in the Netherlands, with six goals and a brace during the month of February. In an interview with the sports channel’s night studio, the Israeli star spoke about his great ability, especially with free kicks: “I always kick stationary and I have a considerable amount of stationary goals, just here two came in a row in important games, so you noticed. But I have several expatriates With free kicks. “
However, Zahavi is not at all disappointed that he did not leave the Chinese league before in favor of a team in Europe: “I really do not regret anything I have done in my career. China was a beautiful and special time and in those moments it was the right decision. I said in the past. “I will go and fulfill a dream. And if PSV had offered before, I would probably have gone, but fate wanted me to come to China and I think it also did me a lot of good in my career.”
“The Dutch people really like football at a level I have not encountered in many places,” Zehavi said of the adaptation in the lowlands. “People love sports in general, running and cycling. I wait for everything to open up. The talk around? Sometimes I get ricochets here and there, I don’t want it to move me out of my way and give it too much importance. The preoccupation here with football is really crazy.”
On the draw against Ajax and relegation from the Europa League, he said: “We deserved to win against Ajax, there were errors of refereeing in the game and they get a very, very big honor here unjustly. Last season, PSV flew out of the European home stage and finished in fourth place, so the season This one has been successful so far. Conquering and not winning is frustrating from a team and club point of view. We played well against Olympiacos and we were better than them both away and at home, and it happened to us against The Hague, where we conceded a goal at the last minute. Times in a row. “
“There are really talented players here,” the star complimented his teammates. “The team here is very young with 18,19,20 year olds expecting to perform in important classes and this is their first time in these classes, so mistakes are conceivable from my point of view. I try to do my best professionally, and also at the level of setting an example in training. “I am satisfied, in football there are better and less good times. At the moment everything is going well, so I am satisfied. To say that when I was stuck in Corona I was satisfied, no.”
And alongside the youngsters, Zehavi collaborates on a team with big stars, like Daniel Malen and Mario Getza, and he shared experiences: “After a game like against Ajax, that I cooked for Mallan or he cooked for me, they say: ‘Wow, what a combination, etc. Suddenly when there is a game I gave less “Or he kicked more, which is natural for the strikers, starting to produce drama, which is not really happening. Getze? It’s a very big experience to play next to him. Modesty, how he works on the field and what he brings with him. Huantol ego and play for the team. Just an experience.”
After finishing as the top scorer in Israel and China, the star referred to the possibility that it would happen in the Netherlands as well: “I came here in the seventh round, when the one before me already had 10 goals, so from the beginning of the season it was known somewhere. It is always a goal in mind, but my goal here is much bigger. “Goal kingdoms. 20 more goals this season? I currently have 7-8 goals, and there are 10 more games left, it can be set as a goal, but a bit far.”
Regarding the possibility that the departure of coach Roger Schmidt will affect his future, the star said: “I do not really read what is written in the media, whether his status is questionable or not. We have passed a stage in Europe, we are in second place in the league. Of this, certainly not in a year like this.I learned about my flesh something very important in the media, I heard from an editor that I will not say his name, that at the end the media is looking for clicks and they will enter the article, if it’s interesting then they will put it in the media. But they will implement it because they know they will enter the article. “
And what will be considered a success at the end of the season? “Fight for the championship, no doubt. We will fight until the last minute and try to get as many points as possible. Let’s not forget that from second place here also go to the Champions League qualifiers and it is very important for our club. We will try to get from first place of course. Ajax in Europe, and I hope Ajax “We will score points and do our best. This is the ideal scenario for me.”
And what about returning to Maccabi Tel Aviv at the end of the contract in the Netherlands? “I no longer know what will happen at the end of the contract, and where I will feel in my place in my career. Whether I want to return to Israel or maybe I want another challenge. I always leave an open door for Maccabi Tel Aviv.”
Regarding the national team, Zehavi commented on his support for Willy Rotensteiner’s stay as coach: “I’m not the one who left him, but thank you for attaching such importance to me. I said my professional opinion and I think he is a good professional. Whether as a coach or as a professional manager “Every aspect that you put your finger on in the team has improved, whether it is from the level of the hotel or the smallest details that a football player needs to concentrate on the game.”
“For example, not to go through duty free as part of concentration or dealing with the media,” the former team captain explained. “I remember four or five years ago, there were 20 players interviewed in every possible media outlet, and many would say ‘I have no doubt I should lead the team.’ Not to mention the level of professionalism, meetings, knowledge, player selection it created in the eyes of the team hierarchy. Too many surprises if there are no injured and everyone is fit, then we will know at the level of principle who is going to be cash for the team. There will be no player who scored two goals in the league, will reach the Israeli team and start in the team. At least not from what I remember, sometimes it happened, and I do not think “.
On the differences between Rotensteiner the professional manager and the coach, he said: “I think his abilities as a professional manager are very high, he changed the standards of the pro course and I think it is very important to give coaches who want to advance the necessary knowledge. On the lines. The difference compared to the Israelis? I do not want to hurt the Israeli coach, there are very good coaches here. I think that the more good professionals come to Israel, it will strengthen us, strengthen us and enrich the coaches and players. This does not mean that there are no high-level Israeli coaches. “.
And what can you expect from the team in the next campaign? “For you to continue to advance and play good football. For me, both in the previous campaign and in the League of Nations the team progressed for a very simple reason: the team did not play defensively in any game, it attacks and makes life difficult for rivals. This time we are coming to win games and it is a very big change and it comes due to a belief in the ability of the team. “
“The goal is to produce better games over many more minutes,” Zehavi went on to elaborate. “As much as you look the test in the eye, you will come on a sex day to play against high-level players, and players went to Europe. If they work with children and youth, and the level is really the right level and the level invested in other European countries to reach these positions, I can tell you Israel failed. “The success of Israeli football, basketball, judo or whatever, there should be government financial support, and I’m not talking about money for players, not even for a moment.”
And what about life after football? Zahavi talked about the option he would choose for a coaching career: “If I make a decision I do it, I will do it the long and right way, which is to start it from the bottom up. When you are every day with players on the grass and give your all to the players to enrich them with your knowledge, I think I “You can influence them a lot more than as a professional manager. When you work in one particular place, even if it can be long-term, you have to believe in your abilities to influence in other places as well.”
And what about a political career? “If I can influence football then yes, or sports in general. I’m sure there are a lot of people who care about sports and who are in politics, but such and such political things prevent them from doing what they really want. I will give all support and I will stay in sports and not politics.”
And if he is nevertheless offered an appointment as sports minister without being a politician: “It is a difficult question, but if I was assured that I could influence for the benefit of Israeli sports and the Israeli athlete, who would receive all the best conditions to succeed and meet expectations and the media produces, I would really go for it. “It hurts me for the athletes, footballers and basketball players, who have a very high expectation in the face of the pressure of the media, which raises expectations to the sky compared to the political investment we are really investing in these things.”
Regarding the championship race in the Premier League, it’s pretty clear who is golden: “I hope Maccabi Tel Aviv, this is a very difficult war. It did 31/33 points, a crazy run and if you asked me two months ago, I would easily say Maccabi Haifa. It will be a character test. “It’s very big for Maccabi Haifa and how it will withstand this pressure, after several years of not taking a championship. Maccabi Tel Aviv wants a third championship that is very difficult to take, leaving the players hungry and wanting the titles with all their might is a job.”
Zehavi was asked if Patrick Van Leven would have started the season, Maccabi Tel Aviv was in a better position in the championship race, and replied: “He has been there since the beginning of the season, he prepared this team and the one who suffered from it is Yorgos Donis, he got what he prepared and he does work Excellent. It’s very difficult for me to judge Donis, he came during the Corona period, he did not prepare the team, the league stopped and there were isolations. He played several games without very, very important players. The big mess stood out, he could be an excellent coach and do great things on the team. “Otherwise, and let’s say ‘wow, what a coach.’ It’s hard to get a team that you did not prepare / build, and get it as a finished product that every time someone else is sick in Corona. He also made a lot of mistakes, no doubt.”
