“When the time comes to talk to Mitch, I’ll know what to tell him.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv signed its European campaign last night (Thursday) with a 1-0 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in Kiev in front of about 10,000 spectators. Against all odds and with a 2-0 deficit from the first game, the Yellows came up without feelings of inferiority and played an excellent game, but as in quite a few cases in the Premier League, suffered from a lack of finishing leg in front of goal and eventually failed to take advantage of many situations against a strong team like Shakhtar. The chances in advance were very low, but the Israeli champion returns to Israel when she can undoubtedly be satisfied with her European campaign, one that has shown that she has a good foundation for similar campaigns in the coming years.

If the games up to the last 32 stage have been led by Georgios Donis, in the last two it has been Patrick van Leven. Alongside a great run in the Premier League in terms of result and a step up in the cup as he obliterates the holder, the Dutch coach has seen his trainees display one of their most impressive games throughout the entire season, and no doubt owner Mitch Goldhaar can be pleased with the decision to bring him down to the lines. Estimates around the club suggest that the title of the season, trophy or championship, will lead Goldhaar to ask Van Leven to continue as coach next season for sure.

After the eviction in Kiev, Van Leven was asked about it and replied: “I do not think today is the right moment to answer it or think about it, but when the time comes to talk to the owner, I will know what to tell him. Now I have to concentrate on the tasks we have left and at the end of this season, not next season. ” The Dutchman was very determined when asked about the game against Shakhtar and replied: “I think we had a very good performance, better than the one in Bloomfield, there were moments that the players who had to end the attacks may not believe enough and joined a little late, we had situations that did not come in due to bad luck and it “Something that we will have to improve personally in front of the players, but it is also impossible to ignore the fact that we were robbed of a legal goal.”

Van Leven of course meant Dor Peretz’s goal with the opening of the second half: “The penalty in Bloomfield that was on Alexander Peshich can still be talked about and discussed whether it was or not, it is not a penalty for sure maybe, but Peretz’s goal is completely legal. “Peshich did not commit any offense, I saw it on TV before I came to speak, it is a complete show of a player who is a hater and it is a pity because I am sure it is a legal goal and it would completely change the direction of the game.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Shakhtar players at the end (Reuters)

In the end, Maccabi Tel Aviv were satisfied with the European campaign, which is worth about 12 million euros in financial royalties and another 8 ranking points for next season. But it is also a campaign that has shown that the team has power and will run for the championship to the end. Also, the yellow management know that they must put even more pressure on Daniel Tennenbaum, Enrique Saborit and Dor Peretz in an attempt to persuade them to sign new contracts as all three end them at the end of the season. Dan Glazer and Matan Hozaz are also under pressure to agree to a long, new and upgraded contract. It is estimated that the options for Luis Hernandez and Alexander Peshich will be exercised for another season.

Maccabi Tel Aviv players (Reuters)