Hapoel Tel Aviv Faces Fallout After Derby Defeat, Squad Decisions Loom

Hapoel Tel Aviv is grappling with disappointment and harsh criticism following a crushing 4-1 loss to rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Tel Aviv derby. Club officials and coach Eliniv Bardah agreed that tactical decisions, particularly substitutions late in the game, led to defensive disarray and conceded two late goals, turning a loss into a rout. "Bardah believed they could still get a point with ten players," sources within the club stated. "While it shows his faith in his players, you can't treat conceding four goals like losing 2-1. It's the same three points, but the derby has a different impact on everyone's energy."

The club also felt the refereeing was biased towards Maccabi, citing a quick whistle for yellow cards. However, they did not absolve midfielder Stav Turi'al of responsibility for his red card. "It was irresponsible, even if driven by derby emotions. It was unnecessary and avoidable, but we lose together and win together. Stav isn't solely responsible for losses or wins; responsibility lies with everyone," Hapoel officials emphasized.

Bardah stressed to his players that a strong locker room is tested during difficult times, not just during success. This marks Hapoel's first loss, first time conceding multiple goals, and first defeat of the season. The team now faces the challenge of regrouping for their upcoming match against Hapoel Petah Tikva on Friday.

Despite the loss, the coaching staff noted that Hapoel was not inferior to Maccabi when playing eleven against eleven, a point they intend to build on. With the transfer window closing in two days, Hapoel is not expected to sign new players. Instead, the focus will be on trimming the squad. Or Israelov may be loaned to Hapoel Petah Tikva, while Itay Shavit, who joined without playing time, is expected to stay until at least January.

Stav Turi'al will miss the next match due to his suspension. Yanick Lallindel, officially a Hapoel player but not registered for the derby, remains doubtful for Friday's game as he lacks full match fitness. Given Hapoel already has eight foreign players and is only registering seven, Lallindel's debut is likely to be postponed until after the international break.