Maccabi Tel Aviv Signs Knikovsky, Nears Tavernier Amidst Team Criticism

Maccabi Tel Aviv had a successful Monday, officially signing Gabi Knikovsky and nearing the acquisition of James Tavernier, while also securing a significant 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa at Bloomfield Stadium. Football analysts Nir Klinger and Eli Ohana discussed the team's moves and performance on the "Yetz'e Ha'itonut" (Press Box) program.

Nir Klinger praised the impending signing of James Tavernier, calling him a "football star" with an "amazing" record of 174 goals as a right-back. Klinger expressed surprise that a player of Tavernier's caliber, who has been a consistent starter for Rangers for 11 years, would come to Israel, suggesting his prior connection with teammate Kenny Miller likely facilitated the move. However, Klinger also criticized Maccabi Tel Aviv's defense, stating, "Maccabi Tel Aviv has a serious center-back problem." He specifically called out player Momoh Kamara, deeming him "not a center-back for Maccabi Tel Aviv" and suggesting Tavernier's arrival might be to allow central defender Enock Mwepu to play in the backline.

Eli Ohana, meanwhile, focused his criticism on Maccabi Haifa. While acknowledging Yarin Levi was not at his best, Ohana highlighted the performance of Ali Mohamed, describing him as one of the best midfielders to ever play in Israel. Ohana observed Mohamed's calm and controlled game management and the significant positive impact of his entry into the match, questioning why he did not start, and directing the question to Maccabi Haifa's coach Barak Bakhar.