Ronny Levy used his pre-season press conference to strike a careful balance between confidence and caution, telling reporters Maccabi Netanya have a good squad heading into Monday's Israeli Premier League opener at home to Bnei Sakhnin (20:00) - but warning that more reinforcements will be needed before the campaign is over.

"We had a good preparation period, and the Toto Cup games were part of that build-up," Levy said. "The league is a completely different story, and we're arriving in good shape."

The coach, back at the club for a second spell, was reluctant to talk down what he already has at his disposal. "What we have is excellent, and it's the best there is," he said, before immediately qualifying the compliment: "If we want to go higher and further, we'll need stronger players to raise our level."

That admission was pointed squarely at last season's biggest problem. Netanya shipped goals at an alarming rate in 2025-26, and Levy did not shy away from the number. "A team that concedes that many goals - that was exceptionally bad," he said, making clear that tightening the defence is now a priority alongside the club's traditional attacking identity.

On the transfer front, Levy acknowledged the market has been difficult but said the squad is not yet finished, with further additions expected "in the coming weeks." He did not name specific targets.

Sitting alongside him was captain Karem Jaber, who addressed the transfer speculation that has followed him for weeks. Maccabi Haifa have been reported by Sport5 and Sport1/Maariv to have made an offer of roughly half a million shekels - bundled with Zohar Zasno - for the 25-year-old right-back, an offer Netanya rejected.

"I'm not oblivious - I'm aware of the talk and the headlines around me," Jaber said. "But right now I'm a Maccabi Netanya player, and I'm proud to be captain of this team."

He added that competition for places only sharpens him: "Competition is a very healthy thing, it makes me a better player," pointing to the arrival of right-back competition in training as a positive rather than a threat.

Both men framed Monday's opener, and the season at large, as a chance to put a disappointing 2025-26 behind them. "I want us to look every opponent in the eye, especially at home," Levy said, setting the tone for what he hopes will be a sturdier, more competitive Netanya side than the one that leaked so many goals a year ago.