Tensions surround Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dimitris Itoudis after derby losses

Hapoel Tel Aviv head coach Dimitris Itoudis is facing intense scrutiny following two consecutive derby losses to Maccabi Tel Aviv within three days. The latest defeat occurred at the Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Limassol, Cyprus. During the post-match press conference, a visibly frustrated Itoudis attributed the loss to a lack of energy at the start, 18 turnovers, and poor three-point shooting percentages.

Reports from the Israeli media outlet Sport5 alleged that a group of Hapoel fans confronted Itoudis at the airport in Cyprus, hurling insults and questioning his professional capabilities. According to these accounts, the coach had to be shielded by members of the club's administration to calm the situation. Conversely, Hapoel Tel Aviv has officially denied these reports, stating that after communicating with the coach and staff present, they confirmed that no such incident took place.

These losses mark the third consecutive defeat for the team in the EuroLeague, further fueling dissatisfaction among the club's supporters regarding the current performance under Itoudis.