The Yellow Army are all set to lock horns with the Kolkata Giants once again in the second round of the Indian Super League after having played a home game against the rivals and scoring back a goal to equalize and notch a very important point for the team from the solitary goal of the star midfielder Jeakson Singh Thaunaojam during the injury time which was assisted by the local talent Sahal Abdul Samad.
In the previous game, Kerala Blasters FC started with Gary Hooper and Jordan Murray up front and the attacking third looked more mature and confident after which Kerala Blasters FC became the 3rd highest goal scoring team along with FC Goa in the league. On that note, Kibu Vicuna said,
“It is true that Gary and Jordan performed well together in the last match. But every game is different; we structure our team according to how we feel is the best formation possible to play against that particular team. What we’re looking to do is to find the structure for our team in which the players are most confident to play in. What is also important is that we have been creating a lot of chances now, and to achieve that balance we have to work and be better defensively as well.”
Kerala Blasters FC, even though seems to have kind of sorted out the problems they have been facing in the attacking third, has a leaky defensive line. On that note, Kibu Vicuna said,
“It depends on the situation in which the team is. In the last game, we were leading 3-1, we lost the ball in the midfield and the movement of Nerijus Valskis is fantastic, it is very difficult to defend against him. It is true that we could have done better. But the important thing is that we won the game and we are working this aspect of defense that we have got to improve on.
“When you are looking to correct something in the team, you will also have to look for the best formation apt for the team. Also, we had players who were injured and some who were booked. All these weigh in on the fact as to why we haven’t been able to find a stable defensive line.”
It might be safe to say that SC East Bengal is a totally different side from when Kerala Blasters FC had met with the prior previously in this season. With the entry of Bright Enobakhare, Raju Gaikwad and so on, and with the exodus of a lot of other players, SC East Bengal are looking like a more fierce and stable side. On this note Kibu Vicuna said,
“SC East Bengal is a very good side. We’ve been watching them in all the matches, we have been analyzing on how to be more competitive tomorrow and our objective, again, is to get all three points. We want to get three points for two matches in a row, this is our objective.”
There were reports from various sources that Facundo has been approached by ATK Mohun Bagan for a possible swap deal to swap David Williams from ATK Mohun Bagan. On that note, Kibu Vicuna said,
“No, we are working with Facundo Pereyra as usual. He is an important player for us. He has been performing very well for the club. That’s all, nothing new as of now other than that.”
On Juande, Kibu Vicuna said,
“We are very happy that now Juande is with us, because he is a very good player with a lot of experience. He can help us in different positions, he is a fantastic defensive midfielder, he can play as a centre-back as well. We will see, we are happy that Juande will now be giving us to work around different possibilities.”
Kibu Vicuna continued and reasoned out, as to why was the tactician was animated in the bench, that the intensity and the aggressiveness of the game was such that anybody would have become animated and that sometimes the bench will have to even out the force when the opposition’s bench is getting involved a lot verbally. Kibu Vicuna also emphasized that he will always have immense respect towards all the officials who will be officiating the match.
Kibu Vicuna signed off by saying that he has respect for all the coaches, on the note of Carles Cuadrat and Gerard Nus being sacked, and that he doesn’t differentiate between the Indian coaches and the foreign coaches.
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