In one of the team's training sessions this week, coach Alon Hazan stopped everyone, called defender Doron Leidner to him, and asked: "What are you afraid of? You are fast, you have everything, go ahead and take advantage of it."
From that moment something was released, and Leidner seemed to come to life, as his friends in the blue and white uniform told.
It is important to remember, Doron Leidner is only 20 years old, and he came to the current gathering in a complex situation on a personal level.
After being sold to Olympiakos about two months ago, the young talent has not yet been included in the squad of the Greek champions in any game.
At the same time, Ex Hapoel Tel Aviv plays in the reserve team of the Greek luxury club, but trains regularly with the first team.
"Olympiakos has nine foreign players along with Leidner, that's why he can't play," explains the Greek journalist Pavlos Sachtoris, who covers the Israeli for the "Redaroume" website.
"Now, when he is close to receiving his Romanian citizenship, the situation will be much simpler for him. If you had called me a week ago, I would have told you that he is in a mess. Now, with the new coach Michel, everything has changed. In my opinion, the previous coach (Pedro Martinez; LN) didn't like him.
With Mitchell it will be easier for him, and slowly he will also play."
In fact, Leidner's call-up to the national team is very important for him, also on a personal level.
His most significant playing minutes at the highest levels will be in Media, against Albania and Malta.
He may not have the time to get into playing shape, but he has already got the back of the professional team.
In the first talks between the professional manager Yossi Benyon and the cantor, the latter forwarded a list of players who, in his opinion, could lead the senior team in the coming years.
Hazan Hari coached the young team and knows the players well.
Benyon saw things in a similar way, and Leidner would be the first defender.
Alon Hazan and Yossi Banyon, photo: Udi Tsitiat
believe in him
Now, with the receipt of the Romanian passport, Leidner's chances of playing in Olympiakos have also increased, as mentioned.
The Greeks currently have five left backs, with the latest addition being Brazilian Marcelo, ex-Real Madrid.
Besides him, there is the Moldovan Oleg Ravciuk, Leonardo Kotris and another young player.
"Olymipakus believes in Leidner, otherwise she would have already loaned him out," Sakhtoris explains.
"The club has prepared a clear plan. One defender will be released and another will be loaned, and Leidner is not among them. I understand that the situation is not easy for him."
Sachtoris Medike: The Greeks refused to loan Israel to the Italian Palermo, to Aris Thessaloniki and to several small clubs from around Europe who groped about him.
Even in the national team, as mentioned, Leidner is given time.
The defender of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Ofir Davidzadeh, was left out of the squad, as was San Menachem from Maccabi Haifa. "Benyon and Hazan went for someone else in the left back position," the team said.
Now it is believed that there is a raw material that can be a significant screw even at the highest levels in Europe.
Usually teams are the ones who jump to the national team, but if in Leidner's case it will be the other way around - everyone will be satisfied."
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