Robbie Keane switches focus to domestic tilt after European collapse

DRAMATIC COLLAPSE: Maccabi Tel Aviv's head coach Robbie Keane instructs his players during the round of 16 soccer game between Olympiacos and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Pic: Thanassis Stavrakis, AP

Robbie Keane has vowed to bounce back from his Europa Conference League mauling with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Republic of Ireland legend Keane had steered the club into the last 16 of the competition and they had gone into Thursday's second-leg against Olympiakos defending a 4-1 first-leg lead.

But Olympiakos raced to a 6-1 victory after extra time to win 7-5 on aggregate.

"We have to bounce back quickly and this is where I want to see real characters and personalities," Keane said. "I won't shy away from at all and my job and my staff's job now is to lift these players.

Congrats guys you made history getting to final 16 fighting all the way into extra time fantastic achievement what a ride it’s been in @europacnfleague 👏🏼💛 https://t.co/0L37ZWlTXr

— Claudine Keane (@ClaudineKeane1) March 14, 2024

"But they will I'm sure want to do that themselves.

"I told the players before it was going to be a tough night but we have to dig in at times we have to put your body in the line but one thing I can't do is I can't fault the effort from the players.

"Because of the magnitude of the result, it's way worse and the feeling is horrible of course.

Keane's focus is now firmly on winning the League title in Israel.

They are three points clear of second-placed Maccabi Haifa and Keane said: "It is what it is we have we have to move on quickly and we have to be fully focused on the remaining games in the last stages of the season.

"We looked very nervous, we didn't get the ball down so that kind of gave them a bit of confidence.

"We were kind of put on the back foot straight away. I think it was a lot of nerves with the players but it's expected in terms of the team they were playing against and we knew the dangers that they had.

"But that's that's football, we have to take on the chin. I said to the players we've had a really good run, the first time we got to this stage.

"Maybe that is overshadowed a little because of the result but we can't we cannot let that affect us because we know we have a lot of important games ahead of us.”