If you're looking for Maccabi Tel Aviv's foundational moment this season, you'll find it in the game against Maccabi Netanya during week 6. Until that loss in Ramat Gan, Maccabi Tel Aviv was still convinced that it was a stroke of bad luck gripping the club and nothing more. That's how the team explained its missed opportunities, the own goals, the injuries, the disappointing play of its substitutes, Avi Nimni's difficulties with multi-tasking and its embarrassing position in the league table. The slap in the face Netanya gave the former dynasty, it now turns out, did the job. Maccabi Tel Aviv started fighting for its life.
And in contrast to Maccabi's crosstown rival, Hapoel Tel Aviv, the team took its poor start in style. Not one player was released. There was no witch hunt. The fans united behind their club. The coach got full backing. The owner stayed calm. Nimni was careful to get injured at just the right time.
Last weekend, the club spun the loss to Beitar Jerusalem as one of its greatest achievements ever. To Beitar it looked pathetic, but for those at Maccabi the team's play was real good news. They started believing the light was at the end of the tunnel.
 |
Advertisement |
|
And if there's light, what better opponent to face than Bnei Yehuda? Besides the piquant historical oddity that Maccabi's renaissance last season also began with a meeting against this club, Bnei Yehuda is a team lacking direction. They aren't worried about being relegated, nor are they fantasizing about the top of the league. It's hard to think of a more convenient team for a club in crisis, and Maccabi was wise to make the most of the opportunity that befell it and take down Bnei Yehuda.
Now owner Loni Herzikovic looks like someone who understands something about soccer, Avi Nimni knows how to take responsibility and not to dream, Nir Levin is a psychological whiz and grand tactician and Yaniv Kamanan is an intimidating striker.
And most importantly, the team looks sober. With their noses no longer upturned and the club's place at the bottom a fact, they know survival is an everyday fight.
Maccabi's next match is the derby with Hapoel Tel Aviv, the only team in worse shape than Maccabi and the new doormat of the league. If Nimni's ego won't take over again, he's sure to lock up his first derby victory as general manager.
|
