Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Demands Reinforcements After 4-0 Defeat to Hapoel Haifa

Hapoel Be'er Sheva suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to Hapoel Haifa in the Toto Cup ranking match for 5th-6th place, a result that sparked strong criticism from coach Ran Kozuch. Despite fielding a secondary lineup to preserve key players for an upcoming crucial Champions League playoff match against Sabah, Kozuch expressed deep disappointment in his team's performance, calling it "simply disgraceful" and apologizing to the fans. He emphasized that regardless of the lineup, the team should maintain its identity and competitiveness.

Kozuch also highlighted the challenges of balancing league and European competitions, stressing the urgent need to strengthen the squad with at least three additional quality players to compete effectively on both fronts. Defender Ofir Davidzada echoed the coach's frustration, acknowledging the poor display and the necessity for a different approach ahead of their tough match against Sabah.

On the other side, Hapoel Haifa coach Haim Silvas celebrated the emphatic victory but criticized the postponement of their league opener against Be'er Sheva, which he said created a congested schedule and showed a lack of consideration for his team. Scorer Shay Elias, who netted against his former club, remarked on the sweetness of beating his old team and the ongoing process of team cohesion, while cautioning against complacency.