Panagiotis Dilmperis lauds his players after win against Punjab FC

Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis hailed his players after their 3-2 win against Bengaluru FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi in the ongoing Indian Super League on Saturday. 

After a goalless first half, Edgar Mendez scored the opener for the Blues in the 49th minute. However, the Shers equalized as Asmir Suljić scored from a spot kick. Filip Mrzljak then put Punjab FC ahead but Rahul Bheke equalized for the visitors in the stoppage time.

However, there was more late drama as Punjab FC captain Luka Majcen scored the match-winning goal.

Dilmperis hailed his players for sticking to the plan and playing with different formations as was demanded by the match situation.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Dilmperis said: “It’s great that we managed to react. (It was a) really fast reaction with the penalty and then we took a big risk by playing 4-4-2 for some minutes. And then the game changed. We started having more possession. We started to possess the ball more and create things until we returned back to 4-2-3-1 and it was the move that unlocked the game with Filip, he came in and scored the goal. We returned to 5-4-1 in the last 10 minutes because we knew they would start crossing and we needed bodies for the set-pieces which we know Bengaluru FC is strong. We lost one marking and it was 2-2. At this moment, God was with us. In the last moment, Nihal (Sudeesh) did an amazing run and an amazing pass and Luka was there (to finish it).”

He added: “Now we are alive. When you want to be alive, you have to take risks. We took a risk. With Petros (Giakoumakis) injured on the knee and Luka coming back and playing 4-4-2 was a risky thing because we knew that the three midfielders of Bengaluru FC will be free. But it worked well for us. I know sometimes I don’t like these changes, it confuses the players, but sometimes you have to risk it.”

Speaking about Majcen’s impact off the bench, he said: “It’s part of our strategy in some games. Nobody should know in public what exactly we do. Luka knew it that he is going to come and score.”

Punjab FC will next take on table-toppers Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on Wednesday.