Maccabi Tel Aviv boss Robbie Keane on difficulties getting to see players with Israel situation and the UEFA Conference League clash with Zorya

Transcript

00:00 Obviously the feeling is that first and foremost is to see the players and it was great to

00:11 see everybody under the obviously difficult circumstances.

00:16 But as soon as we all came back together, it was like the way it was a few weeks ago.

00:23 So I think that just goes to show you the togetherness that this team has had since

00:31 I walked into the building and I think that will always stand you in good stead going

00:37 forward.

00:38 So I've been very pleased with the attitude of everybody in the application.

00:45 So far it's been a really good week and I think for everybody now, I think this game

00:52 can't come around quick enough.

00:53 Yeah, the mood because obviously you're waiting to see the players and of course we've had

00:58 contact with them a lot in the last few weeks and they've been doing a lot of good training,

01:09 really good training.

01:10 They're in really good shape and that's every player.

01:16 So the mood I have to say in the last few days has been very, very good and that's full

01:22 credit to the players and the bond that they have and they've shown with each other and

01:32 that's what a team is all about.

01:33 When you have that, that people want to really play for each other and I really got that

01:41 sense when I first walked in the building and certainly in the last week or so it's

01:47 been very good.

01:48 Yeah, listen, I've watched a lot of videos on them and I know how good of a team they

01:54 are, certainly in transition, very good.

01:58 The draw against Gent, which we know is a very, very strong team, so this will be a

02:05 very, very tough game tomorrow.

02:06 We're well aware of that but we're ready for it.

02:12 In terms of the preparation, it's not ideal but it is what it is and we just have to get

02:18 on with it.

02:19 We can't make any excuses.

02:20 As I said before, the players are in good spirits and in good shape but it's a game

02:28 that I'm excited for.

02:30 That's what we love doing.

02:31 The players love doing it.

02:33 Taking everything aside, they love playing football and I'm sure, like myself and the

02:39 staff and everybody associated with the club, we're looking forward to this game immensely.

02:46 Any game before you go into an international break, you want to get a result because sometimes

02:52 it can be a long few weeks and certainly for the players as well to go into the camp knowing

03:00 that they've had a good result behind them and a good performance and obviously down

03:05 to them as well individually, how well they play and how good they can be because that

03:09 can take you and give you confidence going with your national team.

03:15 The players will be ready for it, I have no question about that.

03:19 We are certainly ready for it and I'm looking for a really strong performance.

03:24 Ideally, of course, we're not coming here to lose the game.

03:30 We always go into every game to win it and that's what we'll be doing tomorrow.

03:35 Hopefully we can get a good result for everybody.