Maccabi Tel Aviv Signs Knikovsky, Nears Tavernier Amidst Team Criticism

Maccabi Tel Aviv had a successful day, officially signing Gabi Knikovsky and nearing a deal for James Tavernier, while also securing a significant 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa at Bloomfield Stadium. Football analysts Nir Klinger and Eli Ohana commented on the team's moves and performance.

Nir Klinger praised the potential signing of James Tavernier, calling him a "football star" with an "amazing" record of 174 goals as a right-back and highlighting his 11 years as a starter for Rangers. Klinger expressed surprise that a player of Tavernier's caliber would come to Israel, suggesting his familiarity with teammate Kenny Miller likely aided the transfer. However, Klinger also criticized Maccabi Tel Aviv's defense, stating that Mohamed Ali Camara is "not a center-back for Maccabi Tel Aviv" and was not good in the recent match. Klinger speculated that Tavernier's arrival might be to allow central defender Enock Mwepu to play in a midfield role.

Eli Ohana, meanwhile, criticized Maccabi Haifa's performance, noting that Yarin Levi was not at his best. Ohana singled out Aliou Badara Cissé as one of the best midfielders to have played in Israel, observing his calm and effective game management. Ohana questioned why Cissé did not start the match, directing the question to Maccabi Haifa's coach Barak Bakhar.