'Obviously the circumstances are difficult' – Robbie Keane avoids ...
Robbie Keane has kept his focus on football by declining to talk politics ahead of his Israeli side resuming action in European competition tonight.
But the Dubliner has praised the attitude of his Maccabi Tel Aviv players as they prepare to take on another side from a conflict zone, Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk, in the Europa Conference League in the neutral venue of Poland.
Keane and his assistant manager, compatriot Rory Delap, fled Tel Aviv hours after the current conflict began last month, with Keane overseeing operations remotely from his Dublin base while the bulk of the squad remained in Israel. The panel hooked up in Poland on Sunday to prepare for this Euro tie, played in Lublin, Maccabi resuming European action while the domestic league remains on hold indefinitely due to the ongoing war.
Ahead of their first game in five weeks, Keane did not take questions about the political situation in Israel although his striker Erin Zahavi did say that Maccabi were “representing all of Israel”.
Today's Sport News in 90 Seconds - 9th November
“We always talk about football in terms of 'war' and say ‘let's fight, let's win’, but the real war is in Israel. We left our families there, the people we love, our soldiers are fighting there,” Zahavi said.
Keane, who was criticised in Ireland and further afield for taking up the post with an outfit which was labelled as as “racist and apartheid Israeli club” by one Sinn Féin TD, stuck to sport.
"Obviously the circumstances are difficult, but as soon as we all came back together it was like a few weeks ago," Keane said at a press conference in Poland.
“It just shows the togetherness that the team has had since I arrived and it will always accompany us. I have been very pleased with the attitude of everyone and their application. So far it's been a good week for us and I think for everyone now, this game can't come around quick enough.
"Obviously we have been waiting to see the players, we have been in contact with them in the last few weeks, a lot. They have trained very well, they are in good shape, that’s every player. The mood in the last few days is very good. This is the essence of a team, what a team is all about, when people really want to play for each other.”
