Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza acknowledged the effort his players put in to secure a 3-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in a thrilling encounter in the Indian Super League (ISL). The match took place in Kochi, where the Blasters were supported by a full house that created an electrifying atmosphere. Despite the challenges, Zaragoza’s team managed to achieve their fifth win of the season, solidifying their position at the top of the league table.
Reflecting on the match, Zaragoza praised his team’s defensive performance, even though they were unable to maintain their record of not conceding a goal for longer than 45 minutes. “It was really difficult. The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible, and the crowd really pushed the local team. We couldn’t play our usual style of football. Defensively, we performed well, and while we did concede a goal, that doesn’t matter as much as the three points,” he stated after the game, as reported by ISL.
Zaragoza noted that Kerala Blasters frequently attempted to cross the ball, which various teams have done against them, but his squad worked hard to defend those crosses. “They have some excellent players. When you’re on top, you need a bit of luck, and we had that today,” he mentioned.
Although Bengaluru efficiently handled numerous crosses, Zaragoza believed they limited the chances presented to their opponents and successfully implemented their strategy of leaving space on the flanks. “We didn’t allow too many chances from those crosses. We put in a lot of effort to stop balls from coming into our box, protecting our goal and Gurpreet. In doing so, we inevitably leave some space open. By closing down the central areas, there will be gaps on the outside. It’s a risk we’ve taken, but so far, we haven’t conceded from crosses in six games,” he concluded.
Next, the Blues will face another away match in the ISL as they travel to Goa to compete against the Gaurs.