Maccabi Tel Aviv Content With Hard-Fought Win, Awaiting Injury Updates

Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a difficult 2-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya on Saturday, maintaining their perfect record in the Israeli Premier League as the international break begins. Club officials expressed satisfaction with the team's character and ability to secure a result, even if the performance was not always aesthetically pleasing. "There will be games like this," a club representative stated, "The wisdom was to show character and win them, and we did that."

The team is awaiting updates on the fitness of players Hilawo Varela and Mo­hamed Camara. Varela felt discomfort in his groin during the match, while Camara is being assessed for a potential minor hamstring strain or overload. Coach Keni Miler indicated that the injuries appeared to be minor and expressed hope that both players would recover during the break to be ready for the first match after the recess.

Players Kanykovski and Peretz received significant praise for their contributions. Kanykovski's return to the squad was highlighted as particularly impactful. The club acknowledged that not participating in European competitions this season provides a competitive advantage in the domestic league, though they stated they would have preferred to compete in Europe.

Coach Miler also addressed his tactical decisions, including substituting Varela with Ido Shahar over other options like Elad Madmon, Hicham L’ayous, and Sagiv Yehezkel. He explained that Madmon is a forward, L’ayous has physical limitations for extended play, and Yehezkel had only recently returned to training, necessitating careful management of playing time.