Mixed feelings at Maccabi Haifa: "It is unacceptable for every team to embarrass us"

Mixed feelings at Maccabi Haifa following the victory on Tuesday over Ironi Tiberias. Pressure within the team has eased slightly after two difficult losses in the Toto Cup, but there remains significant concern regarding the overall performance, particularly in defense.

The coaching staff was dissatisfied with the softness and ease with which Tiberias created scoring opportunities. After the match, head coach Barak Bakhar emphasized that the defensive issues are not limited to the backline but reflect the defensive effort of the entire team.

"It is unacceptable for every team to embarrass us defensively every single time, — a team source stated. — This is not a problem of the defensive players alone, but of the whole team."

In Haifa, they did identify an improvement in aggressiveness, especially during the first half, but acknowledge that there is still much work to be done before the team reaches the expected level.

Bruninho received the most praise. The club is convinced that he will add significant quality to the attack, and the ability he displayed in the first half may provide him with much-needed confidence for the future.

"We said from the beginning that Bruninho is a quality player, — the source added. — However, we are not rushing to conclusions. He still needs to reach full fitness, and then we will see many more good things from him."

Haifa hopes to see several injured players return soon, including Tsunami and Ali Mohamed. Striker Andrija Novaković is also expected to become more involved in the coming period.