KOCHI:
It also allows their coach, Ivan Vukomanovic, an opportunity to rotate his players ahead of a demanding schedule, including an upcoming match against NorthEast United FC in Guwahati. “We will probably have to rotate five or six players tomorrow because a couple of hours after the match, we have to fly to Guwahati. As a coach, you try to find fresh legs, fresh people who can respond in front of our fans and hopefully get a good result”, said Vukomanovic.
Blasters, known for their robust all-Indian midfield, have shown commendable skill in controlling the game’s pace and possession. However, their challenge has been in turning this midfield dominance into effective attacks in the final third, an area the coaching staff, led by Ivan Vukomanovic, is keen to address.
A victory over East Bengal would mark a historic achievement for the Blasters, as it would be the first time they secure a league double over the Kolkata giants in ISL history. However, to realize this goal, strengthening the defence will be crucial for Blasters. The Kerala side have conceded at least one goal in their last seven matches, underscoring a vulnerability that East Bengal could potentially exploit.
On the other side, East Bengal finds themselves in a period of transition, blending young talents with experienced players to forge a competitive team. Despite near bottom position in the league standings, the team has demonstrated resilience and a capacity to rally from behind, traits that will be vital in their quest for a win against Blasters. With three matches remaining, East Bengal still has a mathematical chance qualify for the playoffs.
However the visitors’ recent form has been woeful as they have arrived in Kochi after three consecutive losses.
East Bengal would be counting on their aerial strength to neutralise the threat from Blasters. “I’m very happy to play against Blasters. We stick to our plan and we are determined to get all three points. We’ve seen how they played their last game and have developed a plan accordingly. We’ll just go for the win,” said East Bengal assistant coach Bino George.
