After the victory over Kiryat Shmona on Saturday, the champion and leader Maccabi Tel Aviv will try tomorrow (Tuesday, 20:45) to also successfully move to the state cup segment, when they host Sami Ofer at Hapoel Haifa in the round of 16. Ahead of the match, coach Patrick Van Leven spoke about the task at a special press conference.
“It’s a different competition, a different atmosphere, especially now with the fans, everything is getting more interesting with each passing day,” Van Leven said in his opening remarks.
On the rivalry against Hapoel Haifa this year: “It has been proven that this is a team that wants to play football, we love such teams and I am sure it will be a good game. We prepare the team as for any game. Of course we are aware that it is a knockout game, a cup game, and there is always a different atmosphere. “A place in the world, in cup games. We are preparing for that.”
Avi Rikan added: “We need to put the struggles in the league aside and prepare well. This is an important cup game for the club and also for the players. There is no easy game in the cup, as we have seen in recent years. We are trying to get back to routine and life, and we want the audience to see us play well and step up. “
“Hapoel Haifa has done beautiful things in the cup in recent years, but we come with a lot of confidence and a wide and hungry staff, so there is another opportunity for our guys to prove. It’s amazing that the crowd is back. I hope the crowd grows and we see more faces in the stands.”