Maccabi Tel Aviv Falls to CSKA Sofia, Prepares for Conference League Playoff

Maccabi Tel Aviv was eliminated from the UEFA Europa League qualifiers after losing 4-3 on aggregate to CSKA Sofia on Thursday. Despite a strong second-leg performance and a near-comeback, the Israeli club fell short due to a critical goal conceded in the first leg last week. Coach Kenny Miller expressed satisfaction with the team's effort, emphasizing that when playing at their usual level and following the game plan, they are a very good team.

Miller noted that the main issue was their subpar performance in the previous week's match, which led to costly mistakes including turnovers and lapses in concentration that resulted in all four goals conceded across both legs. He praised the team's dominance in the second leg and their ability to handle the passionate atmosphere in Sofia, stating that the players used the crowd's energy to fuel their fight until the final whistle.

Looking ahead, Miller confirmed that preparations for the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff against Lugano have already begun. The club's primary goal remains to reach the group stage of a European competition this season, and they are committed to being fully ready for the upcoming match next week to secure advancement.