Daniel Peretz is the toast of the town as Southampton’s Israeli ’keeper has been nothing less than stellar since his transfer to the Championship club from Hamburg.
This past week saw Peretz reach another high when his side defeated the Premier League table leader Arsenal 2-1 in a dramatic FA Cup quarterfinal victory.
After Peretz and Southampton secured their place at Wembley Stadium, the 25-year-old netminder spoke to Israeli media about a myriad of topics from battling for promotion, to the situation in Israel, and of course, the win itself.
Israeli and Jewish pride
“It was truly exciting, the occasion, the match itself, the result, really all of it, especially with everything happening back home, whether it’s the holiday or the war,” Peretz began. “I feel an immense pride to be Israeli and Jewish and to represent our people like this. As a sporting achievement, it was very emotional for me to be part of this match in such a huge competition. We won, we reached Wembley, it was a great team performance, very emotional.”
Peretz had moved from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Bayern Munich a few years ago and then transferred to Hamburg at the beginning of this season in order to obtain playing time. However, despite signing with Hamburg, Peretz barely saw any time on the pitch and moved to England’s second division, where he has now become a star with Southampton as they try to earn promotion to the Premier League.
“I’ll start from the beginning, those two seasons where I didn’t play much at Bayern Munich, I really don’t consider them to have been difficult. I knew what I was getting into. I matured when I was there and they gave me a lot. The half-season at Hamburger SV where I didn’t play much and a couple subpar matches with the national team were rough.
But in life and football there are ups and downs. Thank God I feel great now and playing regularly contributes a lot to it. There is also the connection with the club, teammates, coaching staff, the manager, the fans. All of that helps. But mainly, it’s the minutes on the pitch.”
Peretz currently in England
Peretz, who is clearly enjoying his time with Southampton, is currently in England on a loan deal with his rights still being held by Bayern Munich, where he would return to after the season if some sort of buyout doesn’t occur.
“It’s hard to say as to what will be. In football, a month is a long time and so much can happen. I’m enjoying England, I’m enjoying Southampton," he said. "There’s a great connection here and I think people can see that I’m enjoying myself. But for a deal to happen, all sides need to agree, it’s not just up to me. Right now, I’m heading into the most critical month of my career, so my focus is only on the next match. After the season ends and things calm down, I’ll think about my future.”
The fans have fallen in love with Peretz as the Israeli keeper, which has thrust the team into the promotion race.
Southampton finds itself in seventh place with a game in hand.
“About the fans, when I arrived, we built very positive momentum. The club had a tough Premier League season the year prior and the first half of this season wasn’t great either, so there was some distance with the fans. The momentum brought us together. I’m a central figure in the team, like many others and it’s great for fans to see the team winning after a long time.”
Peretz made a number of spectacular saves against some of Arsenal’s young guns, who have helped the Gunners reach the top of the Premier League standings.
“I felt great. Lately, I’ve been feeling really good overall," he said. "My preparation is always the same, whether it’s against a third-division team or Arsenal. I focus on bringing my best self. That’s the right way to maintain consistency. When we conceded, I didn’t dwell on ‘what ifs.’ I gathered the players together, we talked, made a plan. We knew Arsenal is fighting for the league and in the Champions League, so they wouldn’t want extra time. We expected them to take risks, leaving spaces open and that’s how we could win. We stuck to the plan and scored the winning goal.”
English style suits Peretz
It’s clear that the English style of soccer suits Peretz’s play, which oftentimes involves dealing with aerial balls that aren’t as prominent in Germany, and that could be one reason why Southampton has a 13-1-1 record since the Israeli ’keeper came on board.
“I don’t look at it personally like that. I contribute my part, on the pitch and in the locker room but it’s a team effort. Many players here have improved, there were other changes in January and it created better chemistry. Each win builds confidence. I’m happy to contribute, but the strength is in the collective," stated Peretz.
The situation in Israel obviously has an effect on Peretz and he doesn’t take it lightly as he knows there are so many people who have been living inside of shelters for more than a month. “Of course my family is there and my wife Noa [Kirel] is often there. You see the news, hear from close friends. During this period, it’s my motivation," he explained.
"Beyond football, I have the privilege to give people something to be happy about and that gives me meaning. In the locker room, though this is not a main focus. Some players ask questions and I explain it to them but there are no prejudices. One player even asked me if Jerusalem is a real place, things like that.”
Peretz also appreciates all the support he has gotten as a representative of Israel on the pitch.“I receive so many warm messages and it gives me a ton of strength. I see what’s happening in Israel, how hard it is, the lack of normal life. If I can give you all even a small escape, it means everything to me. You’re heroes, please keep following safety instructions. We don’t want anyone hurt.”
It’s a lot of fun to be Daniel Peretz right now and he’s been able to stand up to all of the expectations that had been set out for him.
“I feel great. There will be more ups and downs, both in my career and in life. Everything I’ve gone through shaped who I am. The tough periods have helped make me who I am and helps me handle the good ones. Without those struggles, lack of playing time, injuries, mistakes, I might not be performing at this level today. I’ve learned from every phase.
“Even now, I stay grounded. After Arsenal, I don’t feel any different. Just like after a bad game, I won’t collapse and fall apart. It’s all part of the process. There will be some rough games too. The key is to stick to my habits and keep moving forward, that’s life.”