ISL 2022-23: Poor decision-making cost us: Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic

Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic reckons poor decision-making cost them the game after they were beaten by ATK Mohun Bagan by 5-2 at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Kochi on Sunday.

The Tuskers dominated the possession with 57% and took a total of seven shots on target. However, their defense was not up to the mark as they went on to concede five goals.

Vukomanovic reckons they will look to learn from their mistakes and bounce back stronger in the upcoming matches.

Sharing his thoughts on the match, Ivan Vukomanovic said, “When you’re playing against such a strong team and when they are wounded, it’s the most difficult situation. Today we had an idea. The way we started the game, I think we were really strong. We were good with our pressing and we were not allowing the opponent to come past the midline. We scored a goal and it was really nice. Then suddenly, the moment we lost the calm in the game, we allowed our opponents to get on the ball, trying to compose things, to build up things. And that resulted in two easy goals because we were in a good moment.”

Vukomanovic added that the poor decision-making led to their downfall in the match as the players were not able to come up with their best and thus the opposition made the most of their chances.

He added, “There were bad decisions in that moment – on how to attack and how to go into the duels. The players also had to realize themselves in those moments. In those moments, when you play against strong teams and strong individual players, it’s more about decision making. It’s about those moments how you will react. We made those mistakes and they punished us. Then from a good situation and a good result, we went down to 1-2 at half-time.”

Vukomanovic admitted that they weren’t able to tick the right boxes as the players didn’t grab their chances.

When asked if his team’s defense was weak during the counter-attacks, Vukomanovic said, “It was not only that. When you are in the possession and you are trying to build up, and trying to make those openings, there is a moment where you have to be closer to your opponent. Especially strikers, in order to break down the counter-attacks, if it occurs. Tonight on that side (right), we were late on a couple of occasions to act on those moments. But it was bad decision-making in bad moments. We will have to correct these things.”

Kerala Blasters have won one and lost one game so far and they will aim to return back to winning ways. The Tuskers will face Odisha FC on Sunday at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar.