“To be champions you have to beat the champions”

Maccabi Haifa won a rest today and tomorrow (Tuesday) will resume its preparations for the league game expected next week in Bloomfield against Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv. The green side of Haifa are aware that tonight, for the first time, Maccabi Tel Aviv will qualify for first place if they beat Beit R. Jerusalem.

Despite this, the Carmel club prefers to concentrate on themselves, knowing that until the end of the regular league there are two rounds left against Bnei Yehuda and Maccabi Netanya, games in which they will have to score 6 points, to leave a chance to finish in first place before the top playoffs. Tel Aviv. “To be champions you have to beat the champions. “There is no denying the fact that it is more difficult when we lack players like Chiron Sheri, Nikita Rokavica and Dolev Haziza, who are the heart of the team,” they said in Haifa.

Maccabi Haifa players (Omri Stein)

Speaking of shortcomings, the club updated on the condition of the injured and provided good news for Barak Bachar. Nikita Rokavica, who fell ill in Corona, returned to training and yesterday already had a full training session. The Australian will be fit for the upcoming game. Cherry, who is suffering from groin pain is expected to return to full training on Thursday, while Goodsway Donio is also expected to return to full training activity in the next two days. Yuval Ashkenazi has completed his rehabilitation and is also fit and will be available to the coach, like Haziza who completed his suspension following the derby events.

The players also seem to be aware of the fact that they can and should return very quickly to the ability they displayed until the last derby. Haziza’s dismissal was ultimately critical, as at the same time Rokavica, Sheri and Donio were absent at the same time for various periods. Although Noble Omar makes signs of a player returning to playing fitness, it seems that the main problem against Maccabi Petah Tikva was mainly in the link and the defensive part.

Ernest Mabuka looked exhausted and had to be replaced at the break and San Menachem is also on the decline. By the way, Haifa has an option on San Menachem for next season and it will exercise it, but the parties are expected to reach an agreement regarding the improvement of the player’s terms, who should receive a new contract, which will prevent Menachem from being free as early as next January.