Beitar Jerusalem Owners Address Players After Heavy Loss, Fan Criticism

Following Beitar Jerusalem's 3-0 defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv, owner Barak Abramov and coach Almog Cohen held conversations with the team's players. Abramov expressed his strong belief in the squad, urging them to ignore external noise and focus on their performance, stating, "We are together, through thick and thin until the end." He also affirmed his full support for Cohen, emphasizing their shared commitment to the team.

Discussions between Abramov and Cohen are ongoing, particularly concerning potential player acquisitions. Currently, the team lacks suitable foreign players, and the transfer of Alexis Serna remains stalled. The players acknowledged the team's potential but also voiced concerns about fan reactions and pressure, stating, "We need to get points in Douma, we have no choice." The pressure is mounting on the team.

Abramov also addressed recent public criticism regarding a financial report for the 2024-2025 season, which suggested a significant operating profit. He clarified that he inherited Beitar Jerusalem with 70 million shekels in debt and uncovered further financial issues. Abramov dismissed the profit claims as a misunderstanding of the financial reports, stating, "Those who think you can profit from football don't understand what they're talking about... they made noise out of nothing."

Looking ahead to the upcoming match against Douma on Monday, Nana Antwi and Yarden Cohen may be fit to play, with Antwi showing greater signs of recovery. Luka Gadriani will be suspended due to a red card, while Liel Darai is expected to start alongside Bryan Carballo. Gil Cohen is anticipated to return to the squad for the first time since his injury, providing a backup option from the bench.