Maccabi Tel Aviv Suffers Weakest Derby in 15 Years After Toto Cup Final Loss

Maccabi Tel Aviv experienced a significant setback, losing their first match of the season 3-2 to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Toto Cup final on Thursday at Bloomfield Stadium. The club is reportedly frustrated with the team's performance, particularly the weak play of right-back James Tavernier, who has struggled since joining the team. Coach Miller singled out Tavernier's defensive play, stating, "With such defensive play, you cannot win." Other players also criticized for poor performances included central defender Mohamed Ali Camaara and goalkeeper Ofek Malika, who may lose his starting position to Roi Meshpati. Surprisingly, Shagiv Ezekiel was considered Maccabi's best player despite playing out of position at left-back. The offensive side also faltered, with Osher Davida, Helio Varela, and Elad Madmon unable to penetrate Hapoel's defense. The Football Association rejected claims of a missed penalty for Dor Peretz, confirming the referee's correct decision. "It's unacceptable that we didn't threaten Hapoel. They came prepared and prevented us from doing anything. This was our weakest derby in a decade and a half," a club source stated. Coach Miller expressed deep disappointment, hinting at potential squad changes. "This is a blow to the fans and the club. We are very disappointed. We didn't do enough in the final third, except for the last few minutes. You can't play like this," he said, acknowledging individual errors from players who have performed well previously. He added that the team felt too comfortable during large parts of the game and needs to be ready to play against top teams. Dor Peretz, who scored two late goals to narrow the deficit, also voiced his disappointment with both the result and the team's overall performance, taking responsibility along with his teammates for not winning tackles or tracking back defensively. He acknowledged Hapoel Tel Aviv's effective game plan and superior performance.