Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Defends Defender Amid Criticism

Hapoel Be'er Sheva coach Ran Kozuch strongly defended defender Djibril Diop following criticism of his performance since joining the team. After his team's 2-1 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday, Kozuch addressed the doubts surrounding Diop, stating that the player's perceived poor form was being unfairly exaggerated. Kozuch argued that Diop was not solely responsible for goals conceded, pointing to errors made by other players as well, and highlighted four crucial saves Diop made during the match.

Kozuch likened the intense scrutiny of Diop to past situations involving other players, including goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, who was initially deemed not good enough for the team but is now considered the best in the country. He also recalled striker Igor Zlatanovic facing similar doubts upon his arrival. Kozuch emphasized that he views his team as a family and always supports his players, but stressed the need for respect towards the professional staff's decisions.

"We need to be ashamed of the witch hunt around him," Kozuch stated, asserting that if Diop were not good enough, he would not be with the club. He also mentioned making difficult decisions about players he felt were not performing at a high level, even if they were popular.

Defender Itay Rotman, speaking alongside Kozuch, acknowledged that the game was challenging but expressed confidence in the team's character and ability to come back from deficits. He also shared that he is feeling well after recovering from a significant injury and is not afraid of further setbacks. Rotman added that the team aims to win from the start of every match and that the squad depth allows them to compete in multiple competitions.