Almog Cohen Risks Losing Key Beitar Jerusalem Players Over Intensity Dispute

Beitar Jerusalem faces a critical second-leg match against Austria Vienna on Thursday after a 2-1 home loss in Bucharest, requiring a strong away performance to advance to the playoff stage. In a recent discussion on the sports show "Press Box," former striker Itay Shechter and coach Nir Klinger debated Almog Cohen's management of star players Omer Atzili and Yarden Shua, focusing on Cohen's approach to their playing intensity and early substitutions.

Shechter criticized Cohen's strict stance, warning that benching key players like Atzili and Shua for perceived drops in intensity could backfire. He emphasized that decisive players need to be preserved in important matches and that constant substitution risks undermining their confidence. Shechter noted that players cannot maintain maximum pressure for the full 90 minutes and that Cohen lacks suitable bench options to replace these stars without weakening the team.

Conversely, Klinger placed responsibility on Atzili and Shua to elevate their intensity levels, stating that Cohen should not lose these players and that last year's successful system remains valid. He expects the stars to improve their performance intensity to avoid conflicts with the coach. The debate highlights tensions within Beitar Jerusalem as they prepare for a crucial European fixture.

The outcome of the match and Cohen's management decisions could significantly impact the team's chances of progressing in the competition and maintaining squad harmony.