It speaks volumes about the sky-high standards Barak Bakhar sets at Maccabi Haifa that, despite a hard-fought 1-0 win away from home at local rivals Hapoel, one that keeps The Greens four points clear at the top of the Isreali Premier League table, their 43-year-old head coach was left wanting more.
Then again, football is a results business. And a manager who has tasted domestic success in five of the last six seasons back home in Israel knows from first-hand experience just how important this most nervy and unconvincing of derby wins could be come the business end of the campaign.
Performances matter. But winning is non-negotiable.
“To win the derby with a bad performance, with a lot of character… You have to appreciate every victory, certainly in the derby,” Bakhar reflects (Sport5). “A very important victory. Very satisfying.
“We weren’t as brave as we usually are. We did almost nothing, we didn’t take risks, we moved (the ball) side to side. (But) we knew we would score the goal.”
Will Rangers replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst with Maccabi Haifa’s Barak Bakhar?
This is the sort of confidence only success, and sustained success at that, can breed. Even with Maccabi Haifa well short of their best, reliant upon an own goal from one-time Celtic defender Hatem Abd Elhamed, there were never any doubts that the three points would by coming back with Bakhar to the Sammy Ofer Stadium.
In 12 league games, Maccabi have been on the winning side on 10 occasions. And though they bowed out of the Champions League at the group-stage, three goals scored against Paris Saint-Germain and a famous victory over Italian giants Juventus ensured they exited Europe’s elite club competition with their reputation on the continent greatly enhanced.
You certainly can’t say the same Rangers; statistically the worst team ever to feature in the Champions League first-round. According to Sport5, Rangers have sounded out Bakhar about the prospect taking over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox. The Dutchman, despite a morale-boosting midweek triumph over Hearts, remains under serious pressure on the blue side of Glasgow.
“It’s flattering,” Bakhar said when quizzed about those Rangers links. “(But) I don’t care (if the rumours) are true or not. Right now, it’s not relevant.”
Luring Bakhar away from Maccabi Haifa, with a sixth title in seven years in sight, looks easier said than done.
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