Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Worried About Post-Europe Slump After Draw

Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Eliniv Barda expressed concern over his team's performance in their 0-0 draw against Hapoel Haifa, particularly in the first half, which he attributed to fatigue and a lack of focus following their return from European competition. Barda stated, "I was very worried about this after returning from Europe." He felt the team was unfocused in the first half but improved in the second, despite missing a penalty and having a player sent off, leading to a 10-on-10 situation where they continued to press but lacked effectiveness.

Despite the draw, Barda dismissed claims of player fatigue, insisting the team followed different instructions in the first half than requested and corrected them in the second. When asked about his team being considered title contenders, Barda responded positively, "I like that they put us there," but emphasized the need to perform on the field and accumulate points. He acknowledged the intense start to the season but reiterated that fatigue was not an acceptable excuse.

Left-back Doron Leidner shared the disappointment, stating the team wanted to start the season with a win and acknowledged the impact of returning from European matches, noting the different pace. He also commented on teammate Omri Turi'el missing a penalty, saying, "Who doesn't miss also doesn't score," and defended him, noting many great players miss penalties. Regarding competition for his position, Leidner stated, "Competition is always a good thing," and asserted his status as the natural left-back, with the better player earning the spot.