“Unfortunately, we had another second half in which we conceded a goal late on and dropped points,” Peretz said shortly after the 2025/26 league campaign ended in a disapointing 2-2 defeat at Petah Tikva. Peretz, who scored a goal in each one of Maccabi’s six outings, said: “It is a symptom that has accompanied us through parts of the Playoff, we start well, but in the end we concede goals and lose results or important matches. We will need to raise our level ahead of Tuesday and understand that we have to put ourselves back in the picture at every stage of the game.”
When asked about the lingering feeling from the league season, the captain said: “There’s a sense of disappointment because we were close to the title several times and stumbled. At the same time, as a club and as a team, we went through a maturation process that I think is ultimately healthy for everyone. We always want to achieve the very best, but it doesn’t always happen that way.”
Peretz, who scored 19 league goals and 22 in all competitions to clinch the league’s top goal-scorer award while playing as a midfielder added: “It is an achievement for me and something that is far from trivial in any respect. We don’t see this often in world football, and I’m very happy. I think that even in my imagination I didn’t believe it was possible, but my family and my wife pushed me and made it clear to me that it was within reach. Today it was obvious that my teammates wanted it for me just as much as I wanted it myself. Everyone wanted it for me. Hopefully in the future it will also lead to team titles.”
On the improvement he has showed this season, the 31-year-old added: “I always work on the things I need to improve. In previous seasons I scored similar numbers as well, but this season the number of league goals was significantly higher than in past seasons.”
The Maccabi captain is already focused on the next and final mission of the season, the State Cup Final against Hapoel Be’er Sheva: “We understand how important this match is. After a season with feelings of disappointment and missed opportunities, we have a chance to correct those feelings. We want to come and bring a trophy for the fans who come to every match, and for the club that gives its best every single day. It’s one match for a title, and we’ll be there”.
