Beitar Jerusalem Faces Mounting Pressure Amidst Poor Performance

Beitar Jerusalem is under intense pressure following a dismal start to the season, suffering two heavy defeats and conceding a 7-1 goal difference, leaving them at the bottom of the league table. A loss in their upcoming match against Bnei Sakhnin on Monday evening could further exacerbate the crisis.

Club legend and all-time top scorer Eli Ohana spoke about the team's struggles on a radio sports program, addressing fan intrusions at the training complex. Ohana condemned the actions, stating that while fans have the right to protest, there are boundaries that should not be crossed. He expressed disappointment with the team's performance in the first two games, noting that neither the defense nor the offense functioned effectively, and suggested the team would not have scored even with more time against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Ohana also criticized the decision for Almog Cohen to move to the sidelines as coach, believing the combination of Cohen and Barak Itzhaki should have continued despite potential disagreements. He praised Cohen's work as professional manager but felt the transition to coaching was a mistake by owner Barak Abramov. Ohana expressed pessimism about the team's immediate future, citing the similarity of the squad to last season's and the failure to integrate new signings like forwards Sean Weissman and Tomer Yosefi, who he believes were not given adequate time to adapt.

Furthermore, Ohana pointed to defensive frailties, specifically mentioning the performance of central defenders Luka Gadrani and Braine Karbele. He suggested their contract negotiations might have distracted them, impacting their play. Ohana also questioned Cohen's insistence on a high-pressing system, arguing it doesn't suit players like Yarden Shua and Omer Atzili, who are not known for their pressing intensity. He advised Cohen to be more flexible and adapt his tactics during games.

Regarding Cohen's position, Ohana warned that a loss to Sakhnin would put his job in jeopardy, predicting that fan discontent would escalate, leading to jeers and protests, a situation he believes Cohen should have anticipated when taking the role at the high-pressure club.