Barak Becher: "We are not favorites, Apollon Limassol is at our level"
Maccabi Haifa is finishing its preparations for the home meeting against the Cypriot champions in the third qualifying round of the champions (Wednesday, 20:00, Sport2).
The coach is careful: "If we come a little unprepared, we will lose."
On the Atzili case: "He knows he made a mistake."
Levi: "A different challenge from Olympiakos"
Yaniv Tuchman
02/08/2022
Tuesday, August 2, 2022, 5:55 p.m
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Summary of Maccabi Haifa's 0:4 over Olympiakos in Greece (Sport1)
The stadium in Haifa is once again expected to be filled to capacity, when Maccabi Haifa will host Apollon Limassol tomorrow for the first of two matches in the third qualifying round of the Champions League
(Wednesday, 20:00, Sport2)
.
Maccabi Haifa will finish its preparations for the home game against Apollon Limassol this evening, but even before that at this time coach Barak Becher is holding a press conference ahead of the meeting.
"The team did not play an official game," said Bacher in opening his remarks ahead of the meeting.
"It's the same coach, more or less the same players. I believe we'll come prepared for any possibility. The fact that they haven't played an official game can be an advantage for us. If we come to the games like we know how, then things will work out."
180 minutes away from the Champions Playoffs.
Barak Bacher (Photo: Maor Alxalsi)
On the atmosphere in the team: "Everyone on the ground knows that we have just started. We had a great victory, but in order to continue the journey there is an equally difficult opponent. I said before Olympiakos that the chances are 50-50, and even now they are 50-50. Apollon is a team at our level, organized Organized. What will make the difference is the attitude and sharpness. We were not underdogs against Olympiakos and we are not favorites now. It's all a matter of attitude and how we come into the game. If we come a little unprepared, we will lose the game."
On the story with Abu Fani: "There was a conversation with Muhammad Abu Fani, he understood that the behavior was not good. He must learn, but we resolved it between him and me. He is a significant player."
On Piero: "We wanted Piero to be significant in the attack and score, we wanted him to influence the game and he did it. Just as he was criticized after two games, we will also give him time now. There is still work to do, he is still not in full shape. Let's wait both with the criticism and with The compliments".
On the Atzili affair: "We are all sorry for everything that happened with Atzili, but in my two years with him I see a player who behaves exemplary, contributes to training and helps the community. He knows he made a mistake."
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A different challenge from Olympiakos, but no less difficult.
Lavi (Photo: Maor Alxalsi)
Captain Neta Lavi: "In the media we are favorites and before Olympiakos we were a clear underdog. We are now looked at as big but we have to come with the same attitude, aware of the importance of the game for the club. We scored a historic result, but it is already history and we have to move forward."
Before tomorrow's match: "On paper, Apollon is not as good, but it presses all over the field and makes life difficult for the opponent. We don't take it easy in this team, we were at a peak moment in Greece, but we have to get down to earth, we are all professionals, do it and are ready for the next game. It's a different challenge than Olympiakos , but no less difficult."
Lavi also commented on the recent storm surrounding Omer Atzili: "Atzili is going through a difficult week, many articles. My acquaintance with him is completely different. He regretted and regrets what he did. He visits hospitals every day, he helps us and I love him on a personal level."
On his current fitness: "In the first half against Olympiakos, we all touched the ball less. In the first half, we came up with an opportunity in the last minute. I don't know what we will do in the second half, I feel good about myself. I know there is a lot to improve. There are things I used to do and today I do less, for sure it is It will come with time."
Regarding the lineup, Bacher is debating whether to surprise with a lineup that the opponent's coach did not expect, as he did last week in Greece, or continue to give credit to the 11 that defeated Olympiakos.
Estimated line-up:
Josh Cohen, Dolev Haziza, Pierre Corneau, Bogdan Palanich, Sean Goldberg, Daniel Sondgren, Neta Lavie, Ali Muhammad, Charon Sherry, Dean David, Franzi Piero.
"In my two years with him, I see a player who behaves exemplary."
Bachar Ali Atzili (Photo: Barney Ardov)
Unlike Maccabi Haifa, Apollon Limassol is starting its journey in the Champions League qualifiers at the current stage.
In light of the fact that the season in Cyprus has not yet started either, the game in Haifa will actually be its first of the season in an official setting.
The Cypriot champions will have to manage without the back midfielder El Haji Ba, who will be absent due to injury.
Another player, Felika Veh, is in serious doubt after being injured in one of the preparatory games.
The guest arrived in Israel without the Lebanese Bassel Jaradi, when the claim on the neighboring island is that the player is injured.
The one included in the squad is the fresh legionnaire Ido Shahar who joined on loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Estimated line-up:
Alexander Jovanovic, Euclids Cabral, Vokashin Jovanovic, Valentin Roberge, Kharlambus Kyriakou, Emin Hamas, Israel Kol, Danilo Shpoliarich, Harvin Ongande, Ioannis Pitas, Nicolas Dighini.
Will be partnered against Maccabi Haifa?
Dawn (photo: official website, Apollon Limassol)
As you know, Maccabi Haifa has in any case guaranteed participation in the European group stage this season - the question is whether in the Champions League, the European League or the Conference League in the event of two consecutive relegations.
The champions of Israel and Cyprus already know that the winner of the meetings between them will compete in the fourth and decisive round before the group stage in the Champions League against Red Star Belgrade from Serbia or Pyunik Yerevan from Armenia, while whoever is eliminated will compete in the Europa League playoffs against the winner of the meeting between Olympiakos and Sloven Bratislava - so there is a possibility of another duel between Maccabi Haifa for the Greek champions, who just last week suffered a historic loss from the Greens.
sport
Israeli soccer
Super League
Tags
Maccabi Haifa
Apollo Limassol