Ziv Arie Reflects on Leaving Hapoel Jerusalem, Focuses on Maccabi Petah Tikva Goals

Ziv Arie, former coach of Hapoel Jerusalem, expressed satisfaction with his time at the club but emphasized his current commitment to Maccabi Petah Tikva, the newly promoted team he now leads. Arie, who was closely associated with Hapoel Jerusalem and helped promote them to the Premier League, left the club voluntarily after a relegation battle last season. Jerusalem managed to avoid relegation, while Arie has since taken charge of Maccabi Petah Tikva.

The two teams met recently in a Toto Cup match, with Hapoel Jerusalem winning 1-0. Jerusalem’s coach Lior Zada downplayed the significance of the result, calling it more of a morale booster and emphasizing the team’s focus on avoiding a repeat of last season’s struggles. He highlighted positive aspects such as offensive positioning and applying pressure on opponents.

Arie criticized his team’s start in the match, citing softness and frustration over a red card that hindered their training. He stated the team’s goals include resting briefly before preparing for their next game against Hapoel Ramat Gan and bringing in new players. Arie expressed a strong connection with club chairman Avi Luzon and a desire to build the best possible squad.

Maccabi Petah Tikva player Mohammad Hindi noted the team’s resilience despite playing with ten men and praised Arie’s tactical approach. He acknowledged the Toto Cup as a learning experience and stressed the team’s potential to play quality football without setting specific targets yet. Former player Ohad Almog also expressed optimism about his personal improvement under the new coaching staff.

Overall, the focus for Maccabi Petah Tikva is on building a strong team and improving performance, while Hapoel Jerusalem aims to stabilize after a difficult previous season.