Beitar Jerusalem Coach Almog Cohen Disappointed by Season Start

Beitar Jerusalem's head coach, Almog Cohen, expressed his disappointment following his team's 3-0 defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv on Thursday night at Bloomfield Stadium. Cohen admitted that the team did not expect to begin the season in such a manner, stating, "These were not the plans. We expected to start the season better, but unfortunately, this is the situation." He emphasized the need for the team to remain strong and continue believing in their approach, acknowledging that when things go wrong, hard work is required.

Cohen reflected on his transition to coaching, noting that he knew he would eventually move to the sidelines and is fully motivated by the challenge, with pressure increasing his drive. He contrasted the team's poor league start with strong performances in European competitions and the Toto Cup, calling the league opening "disappointing" due to both the results and the team's overall play.

Looking ahead, Cohen stated that the team aims to acquire one more player, but believes the current squad has the potential to succeed. He also addressed the situation of player Yarden Shua, mentioning that Shua had an exceptional training camp before falling ill and is still struggling to regain form. Cohen expressed confidence in Shua's desire and fighting spirit, believing he will eventually prove his capabilities once he establishes a consistent training routine.

Despite the setbacks, Cohen stressed the importance of moving forward with maximum energy, acknowledging that in football, one lives by their last game and that the pressure from recent matches, particularly after the loss to Maccabi Netanya, has been significant. He aims to alleviate this pressure to enable the team to perform better.