Maccabi Haifa Owner Initiates Tactical Shift Back to 4-3-3 Formation After Toto Cup Losses

Maccabi Haifa began their season with two surprising defeats in the Toto Cup against Hapoel Haifa and Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Although the Toto Cup is primarily a testing ground for tactics and player evaluation, the results prompted a significant tactical reassessment within the club.

Nir Klinger revealed on Sport 5's "Yetzia HaItonut" that the club's owner, Yaakov Shahar, played a direct role in the decision to change the team's formation. The team had been experimenting with a three-center-back system during the Toto Cup, but after the losses, a conversation involving Shahar, coach Barak Bakhar, and Lior Refaelov led to a consensus that the system was ineffective. Klinger noted that the match against Kiryat Shmona should have ended with a much larger margin, highlighting the system's failure.

The club decided to revert to the traditional 4-3-3 formation, which they believe suits the team better. Klinger emphasized the need for two dominant wingers to make this system work effectively and suggested that the current squad construction requires strengthening on the wings. The involvement of the owner in tactical decisions was seen as a positive step to correct the course early in the season.

Maccabi Haifa now aims to implement this formation change as they prepare for the upcoming Israeli Premier League matches, hoping to improve their performance and results after the disappointing start in the Toto Cup.