Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Denies Derby Distraction After Dominant Win

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan, heading into the upcoming Tel Aviv derby with seven points from a possible nine and an impressive seven goals scored without conceding.

Coach Eliyiv Barada emphasized that his team's focus remained solely on their performance, stating, "There was no stage where we thought about the derby." He noted that substitutions were completed by the 2-0 mark and that the team would use the full week to prepare for the derby, contrasting it with previous shorter preparation periods.

Barada analyzed the team's performance, highlighting improvements in ball control but acknowledging the need to refine decision-making in the final third. He praised the team's defensive effort, starting from the forwards, and pointed to goal-scoring as a key takeaway from the match. Regarding player Douglas Owusu, who scored again, Barada described him as having a high ceiling and a long way to go, with the club aiming to support his development.

Midfielder Omri Altman expressed surprise at Maccabi Tel Aviv's 4-1 win over Be'er Sheva but echoed the sentiment of derby importance, calling it "not just three points" and emphasizing the team's hunger. He also credited the home crowd for creating a unique atmosphere and boosting player confidence. Altman also commented on Emmanuelle Boateng's return to scoring, acknowledging a slight dip in form since a previous match but expressing satisfaction with his presence and ability to create chances.

On the opposing side, Hapoel Ramat Gan remains with zero points after three games. Coach Massai Dego admitted that "nothing worked" and the team was defensively weak, which was uncharacteristic. He described the first half as difficult to watch and expressed disappointment with the lack of confidence and the team's overall collapse, vowing not to let it pass without addressing it.