Almog Cohen Celebrates Crucial Win Amidst Pressure

Beitar Jerusalem secured their first league victory of the season with a narrow 1-0 win over Bnei Sakhnin at Doha Stadium on Monday, thanks to a goal from Yujin Ansa. The win came under significant pressure for Beitar Jerusalem, who had been struggling. Almog Cohen described the victory as a "sigh of relief," acknowledging that while the team's performance wasn't spectacular, their commitment was evident. He stated, "It's hard to play quality football when you come with pressure all around. From my perspective as a coach, I just wanted to relieve the pressure this week."

Cohen highlighted the players' 1000% effort and mentioned the team is looking for a midfielder and potentially another position. He also commented on teammate Omer Atzili, expressing confidence in his scoring ability and advising him to focus on his game rather than reacting to referee decisions. Cohen believes that when Atzili and Yarden Shua are fully integrated, Beitar will perform to their potential.

Looking ahead, Cohen declared, "As long as I am here, a championship is our desire." He noted the negative impact of their European elimination and subsequent struggles, particularly the palpable pressure from the stands. He emphasized the crucial role of Beitar's fans, whose support can quickly turn a game around, and expressed happiness for their victory.

Bnei Sakhnin coach Yossi Abukasis expressed frustration over his team's inability to convert numerous clear-cut chances in the first half, despite breaking down Beitar's pressure effectively. He attributed the loss to a single mistake, noting that while substitute players and the defense performed well until that point, the team lacks the luxury of squad depth to cover for absent foreign players. Abukasis acknowledged the team's significant transformation this season, including new ownership, but cited difficulties in achieving consistency due to player availability issues, despite showing promising play in the first half with limited practice time.