Markus Heikkinen is a big issue prior to the Europa League match against Hapoel Tel Aviv. The Finnish player could participate in yesterday’s intensive morning practice regularly.  “Everything else”, such as a performance in the match “we will decide in the morning of match-day” says manager Peter Pacult about his personnel. The 50 year old is going to announce his 18 men squad at lunchtime on Thursday. In the table of Group C Rapid stands two points behind Hapoel. The second of Israel’s Ligat Ha’al,  who won last weekend’s derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv 1:0, showed extra ordinary performances in international away matches. Hapoel lost only two of their last seven matches on the European stage. But since Rapid is home strong Pacult doesn’t want to know about an all or nothing match. The Huetteldorfers on the other hand lost only one of their last nine home matches in the Europe cup. After three victories in the national championship the Green-Whites have enough self confidence so much self confidence, so that the Green-White’s manager concentrates only on his team. Nikica Jelavic, who scored seven times in the running season and by that even succeeded to take over Hans Krankl’s goal-getter record in the club’s history, appears to be relaxed as well. “Mr. Europe Cup” said “nothing” when an Israeli journalist asked him what he thought about Hapoel’s tactics. Jelavic continued: “We concentrate only on ourselves!”While Jelavic says that he only thinks about his own team, Hapoel manager Eli Gutman looks at the brand new Rapid magazine. Nikica Jelavic shines on its cover. Gutman warns before tonight’s challenge at the Ernst Happel Stadium. “We know that we play against a good team with a great tradition. With all due respect to our 5:1 victory in the first match in Tel Aviv, tomorrow we are going to see two equal teams.”His team is going to be supported by 800 Hapoel fans in the stadium. 48.000 are going to cheer for the Green-Whites. Pacult: “The fans are very important for us. The team has to do its part on the pitch to ignite the spark.”
31.08.2015