ISL 2022-23: We need to improve our possession and create more chances – Simon Grayson

Bengaluru FC head coach Simon Grayson has made a fine start to the stint as he led the club to Durand Cup glory. However, Grayson feels playing in the Hero Indian Super League is a different kettle of fish as the competition is more challenging.

Grayson also admitted that he is learning in his job and wants to get the best out of his players. The 52-year-old Englishman believes the team need to improve their possession of the ball and create more chances on the pitch to reap rewards in the ninth edition of the tournament.

Bengaluru FC have played three matches so far, out of which they have won one, lost one and tied one game.

Reviewing his team performances so far, Grayson said in the press conference, “I think we are doing okay, but okay isn’t going to be good enough in the long term to reach where we want to get to. When we looked at the preseason games and training sessions, we were really pleased where we’re going but it’s a different competition in the league. You’ve got stronger teams, you’ve got tempo, you’ve got the crowds in. From my perspective, when you look at the overall picture, I think defensively we look really solid. We’ve limited the three teams (we have faced) to very few opportunities, even against Hyderabad FC on Saturday night. We didn’t have many saves to make. The shots from outside the box were going over. So that was pleasing.”

He continued, “Where we need to improve is probably possession of the ball and creating more chances. And that’s a learning curve. It’s a learning curve for me. I’m still in the early stages of learning about the Hero ISL, about my players, and different environments. As I mentioned before, it’s different playing in the Durand Cup compared to the Hero ISL. You have to have a different mentality. I’m still learning about many things. Hopefully, I’ll keep improving. I’ll learn from previous games, and we can then get the right balance between being defensively very strong, and being more creative with more chances, more shots on target because that’s how I want to play. We’ve got players in the team that can do that, but I think overall we probably have not got the balance right at what we’re doing at this moment in time.”

Meanwhile, the Blues haven’t had the rub of the green on their side with a plethora of injuries. Grayson revealed that Roy Krishna is fit and he will be available for the match against Odisha FC on Thursday.

Grayson said, “I’ll give you a secret, he will be available for Thursday. We have suffered over the last few weeks due to injuries. And again, there’ll be some players that won’t be available. But some will be and Roy too. He missed the game on the weekend, but will be available. As I said, we’ve had key players that have been missing. Prince (Ibara) has been missing our pre-season and missed most of this season so far. He is a big player for us. And again, he’s been affected by an injury that is still not quite right. Some of the players won’t be available and it is hard for the players to come into the squad and perform as well.”

Grayson has done a decent job for Bengaluru FC and he will look to continue his good show. Bengaluru FC have a good mix of youth and experience in the team and they will look to get three crucial points against Kalinga Warriors.