ISL 2022-23: It was a good point for us – Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic

Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic was satisfied after his team shared the spoils with Chennaiyin FC following their 1-1 draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai on Monday. Abdul Sahal Samad scored in the 23rd minute for the Tuskers to give them the lead.

However, the home team bounced back stronger in the second half as Vincy Barretto scored in the 48th minute. Meanwhile, Kerala Blasters FC took four shots on target but could only convert a single shot.

Vukomanovic feels his team was in control of the game in the first half but a tactical lapse led to their goal in the second phase.

Ivan Vukomanovic said in the post-match press conference while sharing his thoughts on the match, “We knew before the game itself that Kerala Blasters FC coming to Chennai was never easy, speaking from the statistics of previous seasons. Not taking into consideration last season because it was in a bubble where we had two victories, but. It’s always nice to participate in and play this kind of southern rivalry, which you guys know very well. It gives something extra from the physical side, from a motivational side, and from the sociological side. If you want to achieve something in this kind of game, you have to be hundred percent ready. You have to be focused and concentrated in every second of the game. We arrived with an idea how we wanted to play, how we wanted to play offensively and defensively in possession and without the ball.”

“We started a little bit sloppy then we got back into the game in the first half. We got control of the game in most of the first half. We scored one goal from one nice moment. Then we wanted to stay well organized and then one tactical mistake was made at the beginning of the second half, which resulted in a goal. And then when you have this kind of game.. where both teams want to go for a victory, then It starts interesting. It can go both ways and then as a coach, you have to try to manage the things to manage the situation. Try to calm down your players and to stay organized, focus on exploring spaces and the things that you want to see them doing.”

“Then again, there were different moments where actually our opponent had a couple of moments where actually they could have done better. We had a couple of moments where we should have been more concentrated to finish the action and then at the end, when you look at the score like both teams can live with it. For us, it was important to continue in a positive flow after five victories back to back. We wanted to stay in a positive (mindset), which is very important in this league.”

“Seeing our experience, I can speak only about last season. Many teams in December and the first half of January actually start casually and drop points, losing games it is the most crucial part of the season where actually you as a team want to stay focused and concentrating and especially to stay in a positive line of results. For us, it was important not to lose again. Of course, there was a moment when we were actually thinking there is something more. But in the end, for a clear mindset for a positive flow of the next weeks, it’s a good point for us. I think for the other side, our opponents are fighting to enter the top six. With such a club, you must always hope to be there and of course, with everything going all around we want to continue the same way because we have some very tough games ahead of us. Especially playing two games in a row at home we have to be ready to play those games, trying to collect more points in order to have more security being among the best because our objective is to end up in the top six and qualify for the playoffs.”

In fact, Kerala Blasters FC had two golden chances to capitalize but could not make the most of them. Meanwhile, there was an attendance of 11132 at the stadium as both teams had ample support from the fans.

Speaking on the fans, Vukomanovic said, “It is absolutely marvelous to have the kind of fans who are supporting us home and away games because this is part of football. In my understanding, we play football for the fans because if there are no fans why should you do it? This is a kind of full and complete puzzle that without fans it is not the same. Coming back to the last season, it was awful. It was really not nice. Sitting there just being like in kind of a theatre playing and without fans it’s nothing. So whenever we come to a stadium, whether it’s at home or away seeing our fans and opposite fans, this is kind of a rivalry also in the south between Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters FC, it was really nice to see them. To hear them supporting us. They are marvelous, so big thanks to all of them who arrived today to support us. We will see them next week in Kochi and for the next two games.”

This drawn match against Marina Machans ended the Tuskers’ five-match winning streak. Kerala Blasters will next take on Odisha FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi on 26th December.