Eli Ohana Criticizes Maccabi Tel Aviv Ownership and Team Strategy Amid Poor Start

Eli Ohana, a sports commentator for Sport 5, sharply criticized Maccabi Tel Aviv's current management and team strategy following their 2-1 loss to Lugano in the Conference League playoff on August 20, 2026. Ohana expressed concern that the club has lost its direction under owner Mitchell Goldhar, stating, "Something happened to Goldhar, he is not the same owner." He highlighted the lack of new signings, noting that the club is relying only on free agents and has not invested in players, contrasting this with previous seasons when Maccabi regularly competed in European group stages and fought for top foreign players.

Ohana pointed out that the club's attempt to re-sign Kanikovski, a player they had last season but let go for a small fee, signals a decline in ambition. He also criticized the late appointment of the coach and the delayed arrival of the professional manager, calling the current situation "extreme" and uncharacteristic for a club of Maccabi's stature. Despite these issues, Ohana remains hopeful about the team's potential, mentioning young players like Ofek Malika and the possibility that coach Deyla's leadership could have made a difference.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's narrow defeat leaves the tie open for the return leg next week, but the club faces pressure to improve its performance and management approach to maintain its status as a top contender in Israeli football.