Parsha chased Parsha, loss was collected after loss, and in the background the fan protests continued non-stop.
Releases of players and problems with salaries.
In short, another season at Betar Jerusalem, which also broke its own records this year.
One of the players who was one of the highlights of the season is goalkeeper Itamar Nitzan (34), who in an interview with "Israel Today" admits that this is not another season in the capital either.
"I'm proud of what I did and gave this season for the club. In every way, it was the hardest season of my career," Nitzan opens the interview, "all things went against us, but anyone who was a partner in the survival journey can be very proud of himself Important in the history of Betar and part of the nucleus that prevented a tremendous catastrophe.
If we were relegated, and perhaps relegated, the club would not have recovered.
There is no shortage of examples, the latest being Bnei Yehuda, which did not return to the Premier League as quickly as it thought. "
Itamar Nitzan.
From the bright spots in Betar Jerusalem this season, Photo: Danny Maron
At the beginning of the season there were those who bet on you for the top playoff. How did everything fall apart?
"Any team that is built in a hurry, its chances of success are low. We went to a training camp with a lot of examinees from lower leagues, and unfortunately it was a kind of waste of time, because after that the staff that opened the season was different and had an impact on failure. "There was not a single moment of silence this season, I experienced scandals and messes that I have not experienced in my entire career, and that is the most significant factor in the lack of success. There was complete chaos at the club, until Yossi Aboksis arrived."
Coman had a part in the failure or not?
"We had a very big connection with him. Everyone loved him, but there was no doubt that the conditions were against him. A coach who went through big clubs in Europe, got everything upside down here. He himself was not ready for the challenge and did not expect this to be the reality.
In conversations he had a hard time accepting the lack of standards compared to what he was used to.
He was a gentleman enough to say - I can not contribute more than I did.
When he left, we felt we had failed. "
"There was complete chaos in the club, until Yossi Aboksis arrived," Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"There seemed to be no way out"
After the dismissal of the Dutch coach, veteran sergeant Yossi Mizrahi was called to the flag to save the team, but nothing worked for Betar.
"We felt helpless," he recalled. "Only about myself but about a lot of players. I am mentally strong, and I still had a very hard time lifting myself up and trying to keep everyone optimistic. If the veteran and leading players do not convey optimism, it is better not to play."
What was the atmosphere in the locker room?
"We were all depressed, and there seemed to be no way out. Only those who were at the club really know what we went through. Most people only know pips from the things that went out in the media. The fans only experience what they see in the game, but on a daily basis it was much worse."
Nitzan encourages his teammates.
"Most people only know pips from the things that came out in the media," Photo: Danny Maron
How did you deal with Moshe Hogg's arrest? There was also a raid on a house and garden.
"We were not when investigators arrived, but we heard right away about it. Celebrating's arrest added another panic to the pressure cooker. We knew Celebrating was taking a step back and might sell the team, but we did not know it was going to such levels. This story caught us all by a pretty big surprise. It added We had a box of uncertainty for the feeling that existed anyway. We had a survival trip like the movie 'Beit Shean: War Movie', so historically this is one of the most important seasons for the club. There was nowhere to run - I was constantly stopped on the street and talked about the situation, "Where to flee, there is no shelter, and that's why they aspire to players who have managed to get through all these hardships."
How frustrating are you to have to cut your salary again?
"Almost every season we have had cuts. It does not matter if I have children and a mortgage or not, one of the things that most distracts you from professional thinking is the challenge to your and your family's financial future.
It is impossible to disengage from it.
There were messes that we said we would ignore, but when the economic side came in - and it hurt not only us but also every employee at the club - we could no longer mess with football.
Lots of people fought for our money - senior members of the club, the players' organization, the captains of all the teams, who said we could not be taken from the money, senior players like Eran Zehavi.
In the end we came to a reliable outline, at the end of which the money will come back to us.
It's like a deposit or a savings, but it's a process that takes weeks. "
You were very angry about the budget control.
"Obviously, they received money that could not be confiscated. It happened a few years ago to Hapoel Tel Aviv with the art collection of Amir Kabiri, before that to Maccabi Netanya, someone had to give the verdict there.
"In the last decade, there have been financial problems with three big clubs in the Premier League."
"When the economic side came in - and it hurt not only us but also every employee at the club - we could no longer play football," Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Can understand that this season is compared to the final season of Arkady Gaydamak?
"Absolutely, but there was no problem with money. There was one big scandal that accompanied Betar (the addition of the pair of Chechen Muslim actors; SA), but there was not the amount of scandals and changes on a weekly basis. I do not "I barely underestimate what they went through that season, but I was left without words many times this season."
Without Abacus you would have been relegated?
"I do not know what would have happened if Sharon Mimar had come and not Yossi, because both are good coaches, but Yossi stabilized the ship in art. He got into the most difficult situation when we were all broken, and he gave the team a chance to fight for life. He has a meteoric part in survival. ".
"Stay happy, not happy"
Nitzan, who has been a regular member of the Israeli national team for the past two years, has not been invited to the current squad, arouses interest in several large teams, including Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Netanya, and although he has a contract for another season in Jerusalem, he is aware of the possibility.
"If you do not tell me anything I will stay here happily, not happily but happily. The club has become my home and I would love to stay, but sadly I say I do not know what will happen," the goalkeeper says, "I also do not know who to turn to because Eli Ohana has finished His role and Moni Brosh the CEO may be leaving.
But I have a contract, and I'm waiting to see what the next steps are at the club. "
Are you afraid that in the end there might be a liquidation?
"I do not think anyone will benefit from it, neither Betar nor celebrating, so I do not see it happening.
I really hope I'm right too. "
Itamar Nitzan and Betar celebrate at the end of the season. "I would love to stay, but unfortunately I say I do not know what will happen", Photo: Danny Maron
Would you like to retire from Betar?
"With all the difficulties and pressure and everything that goes on at the club, still this club is 'pepper' and you want to stay as long as possible in such a club. My connection with the crowd and with the club is inconceivable. It would really be a dream to end a career here. I have a coaching certificate. "In the future and it will be nice to retire where I like and start chapter two. But not so fast, I see myself playing for at least another 5-4 years."
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us