Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Guy Luzon admits he is prioritising his side's league status over their Uefa Cup tie with Tottenham.
Coach may rest players
Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Guy Luzon admits he is prioritising his side's league status over their Uefa Cup tie with Tottenham.
The Israeli outfit could rest a number of key players for Thursday's tie ahead of what will be a crucial league game against city rivals Maccabi at the weekend.
Spurs themselves are struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table after a troubled start which has seen the departure of Martin Jol from White Hart Lane.
But Hapoel stand in a worse position - rock bottom of the Israeli league with no wins and just four goals from their eight games so far this season.
Speaking ahead of Thursday's Uefa Cup tie, Luzon said: "It's correct that the league is more important than the Uefa Cup to us, and we will keep some players for Sunday and will maybe not use all of our players because it is a very important game at the weekend."
Discipline
Luzon was forced to discipline three players - Lior Asulin, Yigal Antebi and Reuven Oved - for going to a casino after their opening Group G match against Anderlecht which resulted in defeat.
Asked whether they will play a part in Thursday's match, Luzon said: "They returned to training yesterday and if they play or don't play it's a football decision."
Spurs boss Juande Ramos chose to leave Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov on the bench at Middlesborough at the weekend in a match which resulted in a 1-1 draw.
Luzon went on to say how surprised he is to see Spurs in the position they are in at the foot of the table, especially for a team that can afford to have such high caliber strikers on the bench.
"I'm surprised at their situation in the league because they are a very good team with very good players."
"A team that can put Berbatov and Keane on the bench must be a fantastic team. Not every team in the Premier League can do that, to have them on the bench says how big they are."
