Summary of Maccabi Petah Tikva's dramatic 2:3 victory over Maccabi Haifa/Sport1
Maccabi Haifa's match tonight (Thursday, 19:45, Sport4) against Rennes in the opening group stage of the Europa League will be something of a closure for Franzi Piero. A little more than a year has passed since the striker left French side Guingamp, and tonight at Rennes' Roazon Park Stadium, also located in the Brittany region where he lived for three years, he will be watched from the stands by some acquaintances and friends from the past.
One of them is Stephane Dumont, his former coach at Guingamp, who continues to closely monitor the striker's development. "Frenzy is a typical striker, he's the kind of player who is always looking for the goal, very strong, very physical. In France, and probably in Israel as well, he is not appreciated enough. It seems that the fans constantly think that he is capable of more, and the referees also flagged him and made it difficult for him because of the physical superiority he supposedly has against other players. But in Israel, as in France, I assume that only when he switches teams and puts on a different uniform will they understand how good and vital he was."
Dumont says: "Frenzy always knew what he wanted from himself, he worked very hard to become the player he is today. Many times when I want to teach young pioneers about determination and work ethic, I give it to them as an example. He's not one to be too vocal in the locker room, his leadership is quiet, and it's conveyed through his work ethic."
United? Pierrot/Maor Elkeslassy
Olivier Guillier, Pierrot's fitness coach for the Haitian national team, was also interviewed and said: "Pierrot is a true professional on and off the field. Its main advantages are physical strength and excellent location near the gate. It's very powerful. Sometimes you have to accept that in certain games he can disappear for certain minutes, but in the long run, he's a player who makes a difference."
Piero is expected to start in the Greens' lineup after missing the last league game against Maccabi Petah Tikva due to injury.
- More on the subject:
- Frenzy Pierrot
- Maccabi Haifa
