The ninth season of the ISL is just a few days away. When the head coach Ivan Vukomanovic opened his mind during the final preparations for the match of East Bengal (Kerala Blasters FC x East Bengal) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on October 7th. From an exclusive interview with The Week.
The pre-season warm-up has not gone well, there is disappointment
It is disappointing that the warm-up matches ahead of the 2022-2023 ISL season had to be cancelled. The plan was to play against strong opponents. However, it did not happen. That is one of our biggest weaknesses. It is only when we come up against equal-strength, stronger opponents that our weaknesses are revealed. Even losing such matches will benefit the team. “We are at a better level in everything except the better warm-up,” said Ivan Vukomanovic.
Three matches were cancelled
Kerala Blasters FC had planned three warm-ups during the UAE tour. Blasters FC could not play those matches due to the ban imposed by FIFA on AIFF (All India Football Federation). Then UAE second division club Al Jazeera Al Hamra, Kerala team for the National Games, M. A. Kerala Blasters FC also played a warm-up match against College and Round Glass Punjab FC.
Also Read : Tough match against Blasters, but no fear in that regard; The East Bengal coach spoke openly
About making Sahl Abdul Samad a wide midfielder…
Sahal Abdul Samad is now in Kerala Blasters FC not as a young talent. All players experience these changes. Sahal Abdul Samad is a great actor and human being. He also has a good relationship with his family. Sahl Abdul Samad is a great part of the national team.
We didn’t change anything in his game. Just added some things to his game. All it did was move him into a comfort zone that would give him more space and time on the field. That’s how Sahal moved from playmaker role to wide midfield – said Ivan Vukomanovic.
Young stars will be nurtured
Kerala Blasters FC has given the most opportunities to young players in the ISL for the 2021-2022 season. Kerala Blasters FC has foreign players in every position for the 2022 – 2023 season. No failure will be made in molding the young players. For the 2022-2023 season, Kerala Blasters FC has called up some youngsters from the B team to the senior team.
Kerala Blasters FC is currently focusing on bringing young players to the senior level step by step. This kind of process is everywhere in world football. Only in this way can a country create a solid national team – Ivan Vukomanović clarified.
A word of thanks to the fans…
The Kerala Blasters FC fans who flocked to the finals in the 2021-2022 season are our strength in the 2022-2023 season as well. Last season we were able to put our maximum on the field. There will be no compromise in the 2022-2023 season either. We assure you that no matter what happens in every match, we will not compromise at all. That’s why we don’t get sad after every match. Because, whatever happens after we are fully committed to the field, nothing special can be done about it – Ivan Vukomanovich stopped.
Also Read : Best signing for Blasters; Ivan Vukomanovic says that the game is on a different level
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