Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Kozuch Rejects Excuses After European Exit

Hapoel Be'er Sheva's coach, Ran Kozuch, took a unique stance following the team's elimination in Baku on Tuesday, refusing to blame luck or chance for the defeat. The decisive moment came 17 seconds before the end, when Sabah scored from a corner, placing the ball precisely between goalkeeper Ofir Marciano and the crossbar. Despite this, Kozuch emphasized that the loss was not about misfortune but about the team's performance, particularly in the second half.

Kozuch defended his tactical decisions, including the substitutions of Igor Zlatanovic and Miguel Vitor, which some critics blamed for the team's decline. He pointed out that before Zlatanovic's injury-induced substitution, Be'er Sheva had played excellently for over half an hour and looked stronger than Sabah, even better than in their recent win in Romania. Kozuch acknowledged the challenges of losing key players to injury but insisted the team should have maintained its level.

The coach also addressed the harsh criticism aimed at striker Jibril Diop, who received two yellow cards leading to his dismissal. Kozuch and club officials described the backlash as excessively cruel, noting that the second yellow was questionable since Diop did not see the ball was out of play when he kicked it away. This incident sparked calls from some fans for Diop's departure, which Kozuch rejected, recalling similar criticism he faced two years ago when he replaced Eliniv Bereda and was dismissed from European competition.

Kozuch's approach highlights his commitment to accountability and resilience, focusing on the team's overall performance rather than attributing the loss to luck or isolated errors. The club now faces the task of regrouping and addressing the issues exposed in this crucial European fixture.