Disappointment was recorded yesterday (Saturday) in Hapoel Haifa after the 1:1 draw against Hapoel Hadera due to the team’s ability, especially in the first half. So far, Nir Klinger’s team has five points out of a possible 12, and a player in the team admitted: “The first half was atrocious, we must not look like that, we did not even get into one situation.”
“It’s less than what we expected, so we can’t be satisfied,” said coach Klinger, “but it’s not terrible yet and we can still move forward.” One of the things that Klinger is expected to change in the next games is the team’s lineup. The coach has started with three defenders so far, but in Haifa they know that Klinger tends to return to a formation of four in defense. The coach even wants to add a winger and an attacking link to adapt the team to the new formation. Tomer Yousfi is the prominent name that should join as the goal is to add another foreigner with Kwami Kavi or Nikita Motfan getting a release if a new foreigner does arrive.
The one who has already arrived as a “reinforcement” is Liran Serdal, who returned from a long injury, changed Haifa’s game and even scored the equalizer. “We waited a long time for Liran and he knows it,” flattered Klinger and joked, “he took our juice out until he came back.”
Serdal himself was indeed praised by his friends. “In the first half, there were no situations,” Sardel admitted, “in the end the distribution of points is fair. It’s never a good time to get injured, but for me it came at the peak of my career and now I will work hard to get back to it.”
The group talked at the end with Alon Turgeman who asked to be replaced and heard from him that he felt a contraction and didn’t want to risk it. The player is expected to be fit for the next matches.