Maccabi Haifa will be hosted tomorrow (22:00) at the Allianz Stadium in Turin against Juventus for the third match in the group stage of the Champions League.
This morning (Tuesday) the champion held her final training session in Turin and immediately after that she returned to the hotel to prepare for the Yom Kippur fast and allow the players to rest.
Until then, coach Barak Bakr and midfielder Muhammad Abu Fani had time to hold the press conference ahead of the game, when a significant part of the reference was to the difficult preparation and the Yom Kippur fast, which also affects the lineup tomorrow.
"It's not an ideal preparation. I'm also fasting," said Bacher and added: "Playing after fasting is almost impossible, so whoever is fasting will have a hard time, for sure to open. We will have a good enough lineup and there will be no excuses because of the fast."
Bacher also said: "I agree that there are enough players to go up with a strong team. Regardless, we look ahead and there will be changes and rotations. We believe in this squad, there will be a good team tomorrow and on Saturday."
Regarding the decision of who will play tomorrow among the fasting people, he said: "It is something that is taken in a joint decision with the players. It is not an ordinary day but a very special day in Judaism. Anyone who fasts, we will honor him. It is possible that those who fast will also be included in the game depending on how they feel. The lineup will be good, Good exchanges and we will do everything to get points."
To the question of whether it is possible to come away with points from Turin against Juventus, the coach said: "Our approach is to try to get points against every team. We were close against Benfica, also at home against Paris. The goal is to get points here as well. This is a team with tradition, on paper a favorite, but we will do Everything to leave with points."
Regarding the combination between Dylan Betbinsika and Abdulai Sek, the two foreign defenders who arrived after the departure of Bogdan Palanich, Bacher said: "We brought in two foreign defenders who happened to play together and know each other. Dylan arrived with more playing ability and therefore he plays more. Sek arrived with a less than ideal preparation and integrates slowly Slowly. Fortunately, they acclimated quickly and there is a good dressing room, so it was easier because the team is connected."
Haifa players in the final training session, photo: Shahar Azran
On Ali Muhammad's return from injury, Bakr said: "Ali came back from a difficult injury against Benfica. Against Maccabi Tel Aviv he could play, but he is 95 percent and not 100, so we didn't risk him.
He is fit and may start tomorrow."
The Italian media was interested in Becher's thoughts on the Italian luxury club and he answered: "They won after five games in a convincing way. They are a big club with advantages but also disadvantages. For them the game is very important and we must win but we also believe so, we will try to give a fight. At these levels It is impossible to prepare for one or another player. They have a battery of players in defense and attack. They have players of a very high level.
"Obviously, there are dominant players who prepare for them on a personal level. Juventus is a very diverse team that changes a lot during a game. We prepare for everything, but it is difficult for all options. We are also diverse and can adapt to the opponent. It is a challenge against such a coach, but we also have something to show tomorrow." added
The Italians were interested in the Yom Kippur fast and asked about the difficulty.
Bacher clarified: "The players who will play tomorrow will come physiologically prepared and that will not be an excuse. There will be no problem physiologically."
To a question about the good ability, which so far has not brought points at home, he said: "We are trying to combine. We are coming out with compliments in the last games but without points. I wish that in addition to our football we can bring results. Maybe if we need a good result to bring points then we will play more tactically. The crowd Ours comes in droves and we want him to enjoy the game."
Midfielder Muhammad Abu Fani added: "Games in the Champions League are ones we dreamed of as children, the biggest stage there is against the strongest teams. We are waiting for a game against the best team in Italy. We are coming to prove ourselves and we have a lot to prove to the crowd and the club. We are expecting a tough game tomorrow".
On a personal level, Abu Fani said: "This summer was not easy at all. I expected to go to Europe and I didn't make it. I stayed at Maccabi Haifa, but this is one of the best things that happened to me. There was uncertainty and it affected me as a player. I am learning from this and I am all for Maccabi Haifa, focused on success The club and the wonderful team. I'm happy about that and focused on one thing now, the success of Maccabi Haifa."
Abu Fani at the press conference, photo: Shahar Azran
Abu Fani fasted during the month of Ramadan as a Muslim and was asked what it was like to play after fasting and explained: "We have a month of Ramadan in Islam and we fast during it. It is very difficult, powerful and there is physical and mental difficulty. You run and you cannot drink water or eat. This is one of the hardest things that happened to me. We There is an option to eat in the morning, so it has an effect, but not like during your fast."
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