Maor Rahmani and Rei Shani | 21/02/2021 16:22
Hapoel Tel Aviv players (Shahar Gross)
Hapoel Tel Aviv, who were eliminated last season in the semi-finals of the State Cup, will try tomorrow (Monday, 20:30) to forget for a moment about their underground battles in the Premier League and start a new journey, when they host Hapoel Ashkelon from League A in Round E, in order to advance to the quarterfinals. And find refuge in the Reds’ favorite factory.
Ahead of the game against the rival from League A South, the Reds coach, Nir Klinger, Plans a rotation in the squad, so at least he practiced in the concluding training held at the Khodorov complex, with the players practicing stationary situations and penalties towards the end of training. He told the players: “You have to come at the height of seriousness and readiness for this game, it is a cup and not a league, and no matter what league the opponent is playing in.”
On defense, Klinger placed Ben Bitton and Doron Leidner as defenders, who have not started in the lineup in the past two months, with the yellowed Danny Gruper absent. Iyad Abu ‘Abid, who is expected to play again after recovering from Corona, and Raz Shlomo, were trained as brakes, while Eddie Gottlieb and Sianda Kolo are expected to rest.
In the link, Klinger maintains his base with Dan Einbinder and Omri Altman, while in the back link he placed Shay Eisen and also, at times, the young El Yam Kanzapolski (18) from the youth team, without Emanuel Boateng. In the attack, Osher Davida, Shlomi Azulai and Raz Stein practiced, although Lidor Cohen also practiced in the lineup picture on the striker’s box that came from Hapoel Haifa.
Ofek Bitton returns to the Hapoel Tel Aviv squad and is expected to receive the first minutes since the injury to the back thigh muscle, a moment after he scored his debut goal in the red, in his debut at 11 about three weeks ago. Niv Sardel returned to training, but it is doubtful if he will be included in the squad. Zikri is still unfit and has been missing for almost two months.
“We made all the necessary preparations for the game in the most serious way possible,” Klinger said ahead of Ashkelon. “Like all the teams in the league, we also face a lack of players, but nothing will be an excuse for us. We will reach a high level of readiness to meet the task and qualify for the next stage.”
“The trophy is a very important enterprise for us and we are fully motivated to win and move on to the next stage,” he added. Shlomi Azulay. “We have our ambitions and goals in the league as well, but at the moment we are all focused on the game against Ashkelon. Hopefully we will continue to show the ability that has characterized us lately.”
Estimated composition: Ernestas Shtakus, Ben Bitton, Iyad Abu Abid, Raz Shlomo, Doron Leidner, Shai Eisen (El Yam Kantspolsky), Dan Einbinder, Omri Altman, Osher Davida, Raz Stein (Lidor Cohen) and Shlomi Azulai.
Mazur: “It’s fun to deal with games and challenges and not with closures”
On the other hand, Hapoel Ashkelon will try to create a big surprise. The group from the south, comes to the game from the fourth place in the first division, when since returning from the two-month forced break following the closure, it did not win, and ended in two draws against Kuseife and Yavne.
Coach Hapoel Ashkelon, Yair Mazor He said: “Overall, we went through an unpleasant and relatively long period without games, which took us a little out of focus and the sharpness we had on the eve of entering the closure. “After the victory over Hapoel Marmorek in the league and suddenly in one week we are with 3 games, we have to deal with it, but it is fun that we are dealing with such games and challenges and not with other closures and constraints.”
“As for the game, if we do not believe then what are we in this profession for? There are gaps and there are differences, and still in one game and with a lot of faith everything is possible, and first of all we will come to enjoy and be sure to give everything we have and from there we will live and see. I trust our players not to give up until the last minute. “Although we played two games last week and it is clear that after a month and a half there may be fatigue, but I am sure that no one will give up this game and everyone will eventually be fit and hungry to be in this game.”
