At a press conference earlier this evening (Sunday), Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv presented their new coach: David Blatt. “We want to do everything possible to bring back the titles,” said Blatt. “Character will be an important element in rebuilding the team.”
By Amy Samin
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv presented their new coach, David Blatt, at a celebratory press conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tel Aviv Sunday evening.
Also in attendance were club management and team captain Derrick Sharp.
Blatt, who will lead the team for the next three seasons, said in his opening remarks: “It’s great to be back here with you, to be here in Israel, and to be back in a system I love, a place where I had so many impressive and wonderful experiences.
I really hope to repeat at least some of them.
I’m especially happy that I don’t need a translator, because in all of the places I’ve been it took them awhile to understand me.
You’ve probably already heard things from all of the interviews I’ve done, and I’ll be happy to answer your questions.”
“I don’t know if I can supply you with all of the information you’re looking for.
The most important thing is that I’m here to take on, together with my staff, all of the challenges that we face.
Unfortunately, Maccabi has lost a little of their standing and some of their cherished titles.
We want to do everything possible not only to bring back those titles, but also the joy in the team and the game itself, and especially the results that our many fans here and abroad enjoy and take an interest in, so they will support this team the way we are used to seeing.”
“The team will change a little in the coming year, but I can’t tell you how much.
There are more than a few things we want to improve and to do differently, and we’ll do everything we can to accomplish that without harming any of the good things that exist.
I can sit here and look to my right at the man sitting next to me, Maccabi’s captain, who has given so much, and more importantly represents what we want to see in the team in the coming years: commitment, talent, ability, personality and character.
Those things will be central to our selection of players and how things will be managed in the near future.
I think everything starts from there.”
“I am committed to giving everything that’s necessary to help the team reach the biggest possible achievements, to behave and operate as a classy team, with a love of the sport and consideration towards our fans.
It’s a lot of fun for me to be here.
You don’t accomplish anything by talking, but through teamwork, perseverance and self-sacrifice.
We’re going to do all we can to succeed in those areas.”
When asked about the return of the “legionnaires”, Blatt replied, “There are a lot of good Israelis playing abroad, and there are also Israelis who play here at home, and there are also those who played for Maccabi in the past and whom we can use to help Maccabi succeed.
You all know their names.
Of course, wanting a player and getting him are not necessarily the same thing.
There are parameters which the coach cannot determine, whether or not it’s possible to do something.
But we’re going to do everything possible to improve the Israeli base of the team, and its Israeli identity.
We also want to bring foreign players who fit in with the system we want to utilize, and the character with which we want to play.”
In response to a question about how he hopes to return the fans’ belief in the team, Blatt said, “We have to begin somewhere, and we need to begin with success.
To change a player here or there is no problem, the question is can we make the right choices, players who will be part of the team.
That was the key to the success of the team in the 2000s, and will be the success of the team in the coming years, if we can build a team that will play together for 4 – 5 years.
In the short time I’ve been here we’ve already been working on that.”
Regarding the method of the Israeli Final Four, Blatt had this to say: “Competitively, the method is unfair.
In terms of marketing, it is an interesting method which perhaps is what people in Israel want.
But we need to stop making excuses and running away from hard work.
We need to deal with what is.
Whether the method is the right one needs to be checked carefully, whether it’s the right thing for the league and the competitions, and to come to some sort of agreement.
As a professional, I don’t want to deal with that issue.
I need to deal with the rules and not whine and defend myself.
I’ll let those who are above me deal with those things.”
