Red Star Belgrade Coach Warns Hapoel Be'er Sheva Ahead of Champions League Clash

Ahead of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round match on Tuesday, Red Star Belgrade coach Dejan Stanković spoke about their upcoming opponent, Hapoel Be'er Sheva. After Be'er Sheva's victory over Vikingur, Stanković highlighted the challenge posed by the Israeli club, noting their bravery but also their tendency to take excessive risks, especially in knockout games. He emphasized the importance of neutralizing Be'er Sheva's quick transitions and attacking play from behind the ball, which he identified as their strongest weapon.

Stanković praised Be'er Sheva's ambition to dominate, similar to Red Star's own style, and recalled the impact of former Be'er Sheva player Kings Kangwa, calling him the MVP of the championship and a significant figure for the team. He also urged his players to show hunger and resilience, stressing the need to endure tough moments together to secure victory.

Regarding his preference for facing Be'er Sheva, Stanković clarified that while the option was logistically convenient due to proximity to Hungary, he did not specifically seek them out, acknowledging that Vikingur was also a tough opponent and that no team is easy at this stage of the competition. Reflecting on Red Star's 2022 elimination by Maccabi Haifa, he noted that both Israeli football and Red Star have evolved since then, focusing on learning from the past to build a better future.