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 that he embraces the challenge with full motivation, thriving under pressure. 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 play.

Looking ahead, Cohen indicated that the club aims to sign 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 stated that Shua is determined and fighting in training, and with a consistent routine, he will prove his capabilities.

The coach acknowledged the pressure on the team, especially after a previous poor performance against Maccabi Netanya, and is trying to alleviate it so the players can perform. He concluded by saying that while the recent game was not good, the team must move forward with maximum energy.