Former Israeli Footballer Slams Almog Cohen's Coaching Inexperience

Beitar Jerusalem has endured a dismal start to the season, currently sitting second from last in the Israeli Premier League after two matches with a -6 goal difference. Following a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv, football analysts discussed the failures of Beitar's professional manager, Almog Cohen, and praised Hapoel's performance.

Eli Ohana, a former player associated with Beitar, criticized the team's midfield, contrasting it with Hapoel's aggressive and well-organized unit. He specifically pointed out the ineffectiveness of Beitar's midfielders, including Ben Shimol and Ino, against Hapoel's trio. Ohana also questioned Almog Cohen's suitability for his role, stating, "It was clear before the season that a professional manager is a completely different job. You are not involved in the day-to-day, not dealing with players, not needing to see players' faces. Suddenly he has to make substitutions, react, and apparently, he lacks the experience." He suggested that while Cohen might be knowledgeable as a professional manager, his coaching abilities are still in their early stages.

Ohana further expressed disappointment with Beitar's offensive struggles, noting the team's inability to score and a lack of attacking threat. He singled out players like Yarden Shua and Eugene Ansah for their perceived lack of impact, and questioned the form of Omer Atzili and the effectiveness of the team's current formation. The analyst also commented on the underperformance of expectations for players like Meshon Weissman and Tomer Yosefi, with Weissman benched due to insufficient performance. Ohana concluded that while it's only the second week of the season, the team's current state looks very poor.

In contrast, Nir Klinger praised Hapoel Tel Aviv's structure and squad, suggesting they are comparable to top teams like Beitar Sheva and Maccabi Tel Aviv. He highlighted their good organization, effective foreign players, and minimal changes from the previous season as reasons for their success. Klinger did note that Hapoel's defense could be strengthened to compete for the championship, suggesting a need for a longer squad. He also stated that while coach Eliniv Barda should aim for a top-three finish, competing for the championship might not be realistic this year.