Maccabi Haifa Coach Bakhar Praises New Signing, Eyes Improvement After Big Win

Maccabi Haifa secured their second consecutive victory, defeating Kiryat Shmona 4-0 in what coach Barak Bakhar described as the team's best performance of the season so far. The win provided a significant confidence boost, though Bakhar emphasized that there is still room for improvement.

"It's important to win and gain confidence," Bakhar stated after the match. "There's still room for improvement, and we need to win back the fans' trust. This will come through victories and good play." He acknowledged that despite the dominant scoreline, certain aspects of ball movement and decision-making were unsatisfactory.

Bakhar specifically highlighted the contribution of new signing Pedro Brazão, who made his debut. "Pedro Brazão added quality that was missing, he added a lot," Bakhar said. "It was easy to throw him into the deep end because he has played quite a bit this year. He added a lot, and others will also need to contribute more." The coach also mentioned the team's defensive solidity, noting that they conceded no goals despite being exposed at times, which is crucial for building confidence in the defense and goalkeeper.

Maccabi Haifa aims to strengthen the squad further before the transfer window closes, but Bakhar asserted that the current roster is sufficient if no new additions are made. The team is focused on securing positive results, even at the expense of peak performance, to recapture the passionate atmosphere that characterized the club in its successful past. They are looking forward to playing in front of a full stadium in their next match.

Kiryat Shmona coach Shi Brada lamented his team's inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, particularly after a red card reduced Maccabi Haifa to ten men. "We need to learn from these things," Brada said. "We had amazing chances that we should have scored. Football is measured by quality and goals, and we need to know how to score."