Maccabi Tel Aviv booked their place in the Toto Cup final with a 1-0 win over Maccabi Netanya on Sunday, but head coach Kenny Miller used his post-match remarks to press the club's board for reinforcements before Thursday's Conference League play-off opener against Lugano.
Helio Varela settled the semi-final in the 17th minute at Netanya, converting a team move involving Sisoko, Sayed Abu Farhi and Dor Peretz, and it proved enough to send Maccabi through to a Tel Aviv derby final against Hapoel Tel Aviv, with both clubs winning their semi-finals on the same day.
"We must add several players. We will arrive ready for Lugano," Miller said afterwards, according to ONE, making clear that Sunday's cup progress does not paper over gaps in his squad heading into a demanding European week.
The line echoed comments made by captain Dor Peretz before the game, who told the club's official channels: "We have a very high-quality and very good squad here, but yes, this team needs reinforcements and a refresh with a few more players who can push us forward, so that we can compete for all the trophies and in all the competitions."
Miller made four changes from his strongest available XI for the Netanya tie, with Ali Kamara out through injury and Roy Revivo suspended, underlining how thin his options already are before a squad that must also cope with Europe and the league.
Maccabi's need for depth is sharpened by the expected departure of Abu Farhi, the 20-year-old forward who played in Netanya and is closing in on a reported $6 million move to MLS side Colorado Rapids, with the transfer said to be awaiting formal league approval. Abu Farhi is said to remain focused on his current commitments while the deal is finalised.
Thursday's fixture in Switzerland is the first leg of the Conference League play-off round, with the return leg at home on August 27. Maccabi dropped into the Conference League after losing 4-3 on aggregate to CSKA Sofia in the Europa League qualifying play-off, having lost the first leg 3-0 at home before a 3-1 second-leg win in Bulgaria was not enough to turn the tie around.
Netanya, for their part, exit the Toto Cup at the semi-final stage but head coach Roni Levi said he too is looking to strengthen his squad, telling reporters he wants to add "another defender, fullback or winger" before the transfer window closes.
The Toto Cup final between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv is scheduled for later in the year, with Miller stressing his side will not treat the season's traditional curtain-raiser lightly. "This is not a game to throw away or another warm-up match for the league. We want to win and be in the final," he had said ahead of the semi-final.
For now, though, Miller's focus is squarely on Lugano, a tie Maccabi will enter aware that failure to strengthen before the European window shuts could leave a well-drilled but stretched squad short of numbers just as the season starts to bite.
