Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Criticizes Substitutes After 4-0 Loss

Hapoel Be'er Sheva suffered a significant 4-0 defeat against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League on Thursday, leaving them with only one point from a possible nine. Coach Ran Kochav expressed deep disappointment with the team's performance, particularly in the second half. "We fell significantly in terms of physicality," Kochav stated, noting that while the team created chances in the first half, they failed to convert and were subsequently overwhelmed by the opponent's pace in the second. He also lamented that the substitutes did not provide the expected boost in intensity. Goalkeeper Ofir Marciano acknowledged the poor result but pointed to positive aspects in the first half compared to previous matches, despite the team's overall struggle against challenging opponents. Marciano emphasized the need for the team to match opponents' intensity and mentality, believing the experience will ultimately improve them. He added that the team knew the campaign would be difficult and is already looking ahead to the next game, hoping for a better performance and outcome. The team is now focused on their upcoming crucial match against Maccabi Haifa.