Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Defends Defender Amid Criticism

Hapoel Be'er Sheva coach Ran Kozuch strongly defended his defender Djibril Diop following criticism of the player's performance since joining the team. After his team's 2-1 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday, Kozuch pushed back against claims that Diop's play has cost the team wins.

"Which of his performances cost us losses? Did he make a mistake? How many mistakes were there on the way to that goal? Niv lost the ball, Pedro isn't closing, Miguel isn't closing, and Diop isn't closing," Kozuch stated, having reviewed the game multiple times. He added that Diop made "four super saves" in the match and that while defensive players are expected to make fewer errors, the "maelstrom around him, they should be ashamed."

Kozuch emphasized his belief in supporting his players, viewing the team as a family. "If he wasn't good enough, he wouldn't be here," he asserted. He drew parallels to other players who faced initial skepticism, like goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, who was once targeted by fans wanting to assault him, but is now considered the best in the country. He also mentioned Igor, who was initially seen as a forward only suitable for another club.

Defender Itay Rotman, speaking alongside Kozuch, agreed that the team made things difficult for themselves but highlighted their character in coming back from deficits. He expressed confidence in the team's depth and competitiveness, enabling them to contend in multiple competitions. Rotman also shared that he feels fully recovered from a serious injury and has no fear of re-injury.