Maccabi Tel Aviv Coach Criticizes Players After Toto Cup Final Loss

Maccabi Tel Aviv is reeling from a disappointing 3-2 loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Toto Cup final. Coach Kenny Miller expressed strong dissatisfaction with his team's performance, stating, "You can't come soft to a game like this. You were soft in the derby, a game for a title, this cannot happen. We have many more goals, we must look forward." The disappointment within the club is significant, as many believe the scoreline did not reflect Hapoel Tel Aviv's dominance throughout most of the match.

Players echoed the coach's sentiment, with one anonymously stating, "We weren't aggressive, we weren't first to every ball. We lost every tackle, it's very worrying. We had to look different." The article suggests the issue is not solely player ability but also Maccabi Tel Aviv's short squad, exacerbated by injuries to Tyris Asante and Noam Ben Harush. Players like Ido Shahar, Itamar Noy, and Dan Glazer are reportedly not being utilized effectively, while Hicham Laayos plays sparingly. Coach Miller appears to rely on a limited pool of 12 or 13 outfield players.

Concerns also extend to the goalkeeping position, with Ofek Malika reportedly in a slump and lacking confidence. Ro'i Meshpati, a former starting goalkeeper, is available but Miller has shown no inclination to make a change. Apart from Dor Peretz, few players stood out positively in the final. The article implies that Miller's perceived lack of faith in his bench options contributes to the team's struggles.

Professional manager Steven Vaharn is tasked with addressing these issues with the coach and evaluating the current squad's depth. The team may need to acquire a new foreign or Israeli striker, a defender, and a midfielder in the January transfer window. The return of Christian Blic after the November international break is expected to provide a significant boost.