Hapoel Tel Aviv will look to continue its positive momentum in Europe on Thursday (21:30 Israel time) when they take on Atalanta in the first leg of the Conference League playoff round.

Head Coach Elyaniv Barda said, “It’s a very difficult game against an opponent we have a great deal of respect for, a team that is a candidate to win this competition. Hapoel Tel Aviv is a club that always wants to go far in Europe and make progress and we understand the significance of this occasion. We’ll try to come here and continue the good things we’ve done.”

“We know they’ve changed their system and we understand that there is a gap in quality between a team from the Italian league and a team from the Israeli Premier League. Still, we’ll come without an inferiority complex. We’ll need much more than just a good performance to get a positive result here. As for the demonstrations against Israel? Football is something that should connect and unite people and that’s what we’ll focus on.”

Barda added, “There is never a good time to face an opponent like this. From our perspective, we’ve already gone through two rounds and we’re here because we believe we can make another step forward. We’re coming with a lot of belief and we know that anything is possible.”

Omri Altman also spoke about the upcoming clash, “It’s a very difficult game against probably the strongest opponent in the competition. We’re coming with complete belief in order to win. We’re not here just to enjoy ourselves; we want to advance to the next round. The demonstrations? I’m not interested in them. I’m here to focus on football. Football should be a unifying experience for everyone, not a place for political demonstrations.”

“I’m sure they’ll feel the atmosphere in Hungary as if they were in Tel Aviv. We’re a very close-knit team, we’re coming as a team, and if we do the job together, we can leave here encouraged. It’s always fun to play in places like this. It’s an experience for us as players and for the club as a whole. The goals are clear.”

Atlanta’s Head Coach Maurizio Sarri shared his thoughts about the two legged tie, “This is an important game for us. We want to reach Europe. We weren’t very lucky with the draw, as we’re facing a much tougher team than people think. I expect it to be a tough match, but I want my team to take the field with great commitment and desire, without forgetting that this is a 180-minute tie and we need to manage it accordingly.”

On Hapoel Tel Aviv, he added, “There are reasons for concern. We have to respect our opponents, who are stronger than they appear. They are a good team. They have a technical midfielder, another who is strong and physical, and behind the striker they have players with good ability. If we analyze them carefully, we’ll understand that they are stronger than people think. The Israeli teams do things very well.”

“Historically, the early qualifying rounds are complicated for Italian teams. Maybe it’s because we invest so much in our preparation. It will be a tough game, and we need to be aware of that. The high level I see from the players here gives me confidence. There is a sense of belonging here. I see that everyone feels that way, and that gives me confidence for the long term.”