By January, Hapoel Tel Aviv seemed to be the No. 1 candidate for relegation. The Reds were deep at the bottom and had a hard time getting points and even scoring goals, but now they are raising their heads again. After the impressive 0: 2 over Maccabi Petah Tikva, they went above the red line and with a number of other good results they can even get a place in the top playoffs.
The one who leads Hapoel Tel Aviv in all the strange way it goes through is of course Nir Klinger. “I’m still worried and have a lot of worries in my heart,” the coach admitted in an interview with Open Field, claiming: “We made an interesting way in this window. We started working on it as early as November, so we can sign players who can train with us before the winter window opens. And Gil Yitzhak trained with us and has already begun to understand the method before me. “
During the difficult period, reports surfaced that Klinger would end his career, but in early February he is still here and here to stay. “I did not feel that I was going to be fired. The talk about it is just the whims of people who are within a 30-meter radius of me. They did not talk to me about being fired.”
“I do not read in the media from anyone who wants to see me fired. I worked in the media and I understand that, but I kept my cool,” Klinger added, adding: “I said I did not force anyone to hire me. I am very connected to Hapoel Tel Aviv and strongly believe in the club.” .
Hapoel Tel Aviv is a huge club. A real empire. Manchester United and Liverpool also had less good days, “said Klinger.” We are recovering and this club will come back to its place. It will not help anyone. “
“I always have to keep my hand on the pulse. I’m not in a place of fear or no fear of my status. I’m no longer at that age, I’ve been through this process of being fired or not, I work from morning to night. And I do not deal with anything else. I’m a person. “That does not hide emotions: if I kick – look at me. If on the face – see me on the face. I do not play the games like a lot of people or a lot of other coaches play.”
“I essentially do not look at the results but at the ability. If a team wins and does not play well it will not survive in the end,” the Hapoel Tel Aviv coach claimed about the struggle for survival. “I am very pleased with the ability in recent games, but there is still a lot to improve. We have improved remarkably from what we were. The other players make the ones that were good before better. “
On the economic difficulties that hit the procurement campaign in the summer window: “We had a problem that we could not deal with the security outline and it was difficult. At the principle level we all suffered from it and we learn from it. The club faced the difficulties in a relatively reasonable way, without revolutions without beheadings of neither players nor coaches. We looked ahead and wanted to see how facilities are.” .
On Osher Davida and the rest of the young actors: “Davida is progressing. His data is great and his dribble is great. He has made great progress, but a lot of young people are confused in this situation so maybe it’s really better to rip off a pair of shoes before, because I strongly believe there are no shortcuts. There is something to work on.”
On the departure of Moshe Sinai: “Moshe is a friend. The situation that happened brought us both to a conversation and there we decided what we decided. I am always in touch with him, I miss him, and I believe that Moshe will soon reach a respectable enough position in Israeli football and be happy with his way.”
About CEO Odelia Friedman: “She’s a strong competitor when it comes to our purchasing players and I’m debating who she or the players are. She’s a great asset, working from morning till night and not easy to work with. As a coach my demands are endless and I’m happy to have her in the system.”
And a number of concluding sentences from Klinger. “I am sure we are in a good process, I am convinced and feel that we are in a good process. We must continue to play well, not be afraid and on the other hand not be blinded,” said the coach. “We are still deep at the bottom and we have a very long way to go. I know my players are watching it and the message is clear – we have not done anything yet and we are at the beginning of the road, but there is definitely a significant improvement.”
