ISL 2023-24: Have to praise all of our players – Ivan Vukomanovic after loss against NorthEast United FC

Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic was content despite a 2-0 loss against NorthEast United FC in the 21st match week of the ongoing Indian Super League at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on Saturday.

After a goalless first half, Nestor Albiach broke the deadlock as he found the back of the net in the 84th minute. Jithin Madathil Subran then put the game to bed as he scored in the stoppage time to give all three points to his team.

Meanwhile, the Yellow Tuskers had 47.8% possession and took three shots on target. The Serbian head coach feels the fatigue of the players and playing in different formations led to their downfall but praised his team for giving their best.

“We were expecting tonight, in the last part of the game, that we are going to get some fatigue. Tonight also, I have to praise all of our players who gave their heart and everything on the pitch. Some of them played not in their natural position, but they did very well. Them playing for the first time in that formation and together, it was kind of a nice thing to see. I think we played even better than three days ago (against East Bengal FC) but due to fatigue and everything at one moment, you start to feel that,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“We always know that the game in NorthEast (United FC’s home ground) is a difficult and complicated one. NorthEast United FC are playing their first game after the game. For us, it’s the third game in seven days, but again these are not excuses. We also wanted to refresh many of our players who we lost in a couple of days due to injuries and everything. So we need to give some playing time to these boys because most probably these boys will have to play the last game and then the playoffs. Then you have to manage. You can’t feel disappointed,” he added.

Kerala Blasters FC’s young players were asked to play in different positions than usual and Vukomanovic was happy with what he saw on the pitch.

“It makes me proud as a coach because you see the kids who are making their debuts this season, especially a couple of them who are not playing in their natural positions. Azhar being forced to play left full-back, Saurav being forced to play right full-back because that’s our situation for the moment. These young players are brave to step in to play the game because the ISL is completely different and a higher level than the youth level, and that’s the way it is. With Lara, that was his first game. He still has to get some confidence and that’s the way they have to grow up,” he explained.

“You cannot avoid those moments because for them it’s kind of a big moment of recognising their football career at a professional level and I’m really pleased with the way they responded tonight. I think that we were well organised. We forced our opponent to play with long balls and we were covering good space and then, that kind of fatigue in the end, not being able to solve that one situation of a long ball, of course as a coach it makes you a little bit disappointed. We were not playing the way of our opponent. Even our boys were pushing and we had a couple of moments where we needed more quality, maturity and experience at the end of these chances. But in the end, that’s how it is,” he added.

Kerala Blasters FC will next take on Hyderabad FC at the GMC Balayogi Stadium, Hyderabad on Friday.