Hapoel Tel Aviv Aims to Leverage Derby Final for Club Strength

Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Eliniv Barda spoke ahead of the Toto Cup final against Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for Thursday. Barda expressed the team's strong desire to win the trophy this year, contrasting with their previous attempt. He emphasized the significant prestige and importance of derby matches for the club's fans and players, stating that such games "preserve our club" and that they want the win to "continue to strengthen this club."

Reflecting on the previous 1-4 derby loss, Barda acknowledged that the defensive performance was uncharacteristic and not representative of the team. While mentioning a red card, he refused to use it as an excuse, stressing the need for improvement in pressing after losing possession and controlling game tempo.

Barda also addressed team absences, noting that Boateng has resumed non-contact training, while Tourial is still unavailable. He acknowledged their importance but expressed confidence in the squad's depth, expecting replacements to step up. Regarding Kravieh's red card, Barda stated he had spoken with the player, clarifying it wasn't an impulsive act but a difficult situation where he had nowhere to place his foot, causing him pain that his teammates had to compensate.

Player the player added that the last game was not reflective of the team and they would prove it was an isolated incident. He described feeling the derby's significance through fan messages and street interactions, aiming to channel the pressure positively. The player also mentioned that there is no update on his contract option but expressed happiness at Hapoel, a club he feels always fights for titles, promising maximum effort.