Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach: Ventura and Peretz Out for Maccabi Haifa Clash

Hapoel Be'er Sheva coach Ran Kozuch announced that players Eliel Peretz and Lucas Ventura will miss the upcoming league match against Maccabi Haifa due to injury. Kozuch expressed hope they will be fit for the following game against Maccabi Petah Tikva. The team is preparing for the challenging league fixture following a significant 4-0 loss to Slavia Prague in the Europa League.

Kozuch reflected on the Europa League defeat, acknowledging a strong first half but criticizing the team's loss of control in the second. He dismissed claims of the loss being a "disgrace," stating that while improvement is needed, the gap between Hapoel Be'er Sheva and European clubs is understandable. "We need to make a leap forward and be ready for it," he said regarding European competitions and domestic games.

Looking ahead to the Maccabi Haifa match, Kozuch described it as a "European-level game" against a strong opponent with excellent facilities and atmosphere. He emphasized the team's responsibility to improve and perform to their known capabilities, expressing confidence in his squad selection. "We need to bring a lot more to win this game," he stated, acknowledging Maccabi Haifa's quality and current league position.

Player Adrian Ugrcic also commented on the upcoming match, anticipating a good game and expressing confidence in his teammates despite the recent Europa League disappointment. "We are disappointed with the Europa League game, but I think we will learn from it. It will help us be stronger," Ugrcic said.