Maccabi Haifa Worried Over Benson Injury After Toto Cup Loss to Hapoel Jerusalem

Maccabi Haifa expressed significant concern following their 1-0 defeat to Hapoel Jerusalem in the Toto Cup ranking matches on Monday. The club is particularly worried about the team's performance ahead of the new season, with criticism coming from both inside and outside the organization. The main focus of the criticism is on the team's lackluster play, which coach Barak Bachar acknowledged, admitting there is considerable pressure. Club officials stated, "We did not expect to look like this at this stage. We didn't expect to be a perfect and vibrant team yet, but we also didn't expect to look this bad."

Despite the disappointing display, the club is not rushing to judge their new signings negatively, expressing confidence that players like Tsunami and Nigel Lonwijk will prove their worth in time. However, their absence from the training camp is believed by some in the club to have contributed to the team's defensive disconnection. The squad that attended the training camp was notably different from the current roster.

In addition to defensive issues, the club criticized the offensive play, noting that while the team easily reached dangerous areas in the first half, they lacked sharpness in finishing. A club source said, "We haven't found the lineup, the system, or the connection yet. The first thing we need to do is find a lineup to run with and build chemistry." Forward Andrea Novakovic has yet to play an official preseason game but is expected to be registered for the league opener.

The biggest concern is the injury to Manuel Benson, who will undergo scans to determine the severity. If the injury is serious, Maccabi Haifa may seek to sign another foreign player. The club remains hopeful that Benson will recover quickly despite the initial grim outlook. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the season opener against Hapoel Ramat Gan, which the team already views as critical. A player emphasized, "The game against Ramat Gan is crucial. We must come and win, no matter what. This is currently our most important goal. We cannot start the season any other way than with a victory."