Maccabi Tel Aviv heads into a clash with Sheriff Tiraspol in first leg UEFA Europa League Qualifying after a successful start to the domestic season, having just lifted the Israeli Super Cup. Just prior to the match, Head coach Kenny Miller made it clear that while the team enjoyed the achievement, the focus quickly shifted to the next challenge, while Roy Revivo also shared his thoughts on the the upcoming challenge.

“It was a good start in the Super Cup,” Miller began. “We were able to enjoy it for a little while, but all eyes immediately turned to this match. It’s a very important game early in the season, but I think we showed in our performance against Beer Sheva that we’re ready, we’re fit, and we’re strong.”

Speaking about the squad available to him, Miller expressed his satisfaction with the return of several key players, “It’s nice to see the squad looking a bit stronger and healthier. We’re getting Helio Varela back and we definitely have more depth heading into this game. That’s something we’ll need over the course of this two-legged tie.”

For Miller, the occasion also marks a personal milestone, “I feel incredibly privileged to be in the position I’m in at such a fantastic club. This is my first European campaign as a head coach, and it’s a very exciting time. We want to win, progress, and put in a performance that’s as good as, if not better than, the one we produced last Thursday.”

Having experienced plenty of European matches as a player, Miller knows the away leg will be far from straightforward, “When it’s a two-legged tie, it becomes a slightly different challenge. I’ve played in enough international and European matches to know it’s never easy away from home. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is or what level they’re at, it’s always difficult to go away and get a result. With the squad and depth we have right now, I believe we’re coming here to win, but you also have to manage the tie across both matches.”

Miller added that nothing is decided after the opening 90 minutes, “You never know what’s going to happen in any given game, but there’s always a second leg to fall back on. At the same time, even if things go your way away from home, the tie isn’t over. That creates a different set of challenges.”

Finally, the coach was asked about the wintry weather that greeted the team in Moldova and responded with a smile, “It’s something I definitely wasn’t expecting when I got off the plane wearing shorts and a T-shirt, but it certainly reminded me of the Scottish weather I’m used to.”

Roy Revivo also spoke about the upcoming two legged tie, “It’s very exciting and we’re really looking forward to it. It’s always special to play in a European competition, especially with Maccabi Tel Aviv. It’s a completely different experience, the tempo is different, everything is much more intense and much faster.”

Asked about the Moldovan opposition and the team’s preparations, the left back said, “We know Sheriff are an aggressive and physically strong team. The coaching staff have prepared us in the best possible way for this match.”

Revivo also addressed the fact that Maccabi is forced to play its home matches away from Israel and without the support of its fans in the stands, “We really miss our supporters. Of course, it would have made a huge difference if they were with us in the stadium, cheering us on, but that’s the reality at the moment and there’s nothing we can do about it. We can’t wait to see them again, we miss them, and, God willing, we want to make them happy with a victory.”