Maccabi Netanya Coach Roni Levy Furious at Players After Shock Loss

Maccabi Netanya coach Roni Levy expressed extreme anger at his players following their surprising 2-0 defeat to bottom-ranked Hapoel Ramat Gan on Monday. Levy had warned his team that Ramat Gan, despite their league position, was a dangerous opponent due to bad luck, a prediction that proved accurate.

During halftime, Levy reportedly lambasted his defense for a lack of quality, aggression, and apathy, questioning their "heart and soul." He emphasized that football requires more than just tactics, as attitude and heart cannot be taught. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Netanya's defensive frailties were again exposed, conceding easy goals.

Players acknowledged the team's lack of quality and depth, particularly after their previous win against Beitar Jerusalem, and expressed hope that new signing Olivier Varenne would improve the team's performance. Varenne, a defender from Benin, is expected to arrive in Israel within 24 hours and has signed a two-year contract with an option for a third, reportedly earning around $260,000 in his first season, making him the team's second-highest earner.

Netanya is also awaiting the arrival of Brazilian winger Isaac Rodrigues de Lima. Meanwhile, the club is dealing with other player matters, including the potential departure of midfielder Saba Khvadzhiani, who may receive his full contract sum of $130,000, and defender Itay Ben Shabbat, who is being pursued by Hapoel Petah Tikva.