Despite win against SC East Bengal, Odisha FC head coach Kiko Ramirez not happy with his defence

After last season 11-goal match, SC East Bengal and Odisha FC play out a 10-goal thriller in the Indian Super League. SC East Bengal took the lead early on in the game through Darren Sidoel but then were pegged back in the first half due to Javi Hernandez’s brilliance.

Hector Rodas scored a first-half brace as he headed the ball home two times from Javi’s delivery. The Kalinga Warriors piled up the pressure on the Red and Golds and at one point had a 4-1 lead before SC East Bengal showed some fight.  Substitutes Daniel Chukwu Chima scored a brace whereas Semboi Haokip bagged the other goal to end the game in a 6-4 defeat.

Despite the win, Kiko Ramirez was not happy with his team’s defensive performance. “It is a typical match that coaches, we don’t like because it’s a crazy match. We are worried about some aspects that we need to correct because it cannot happen in the first division. We have to work a lot if we want to be a serious team,” he said, before adding, “For the fans, it would be a wonderful match because a lot of goals they can see. So, good for the fans but not for the coaches.”

Odisha FC despite their fluid attacking play have conceded five goals in the two matches this season. Therefore Ramirez wants to improve mainly on the defensive side of things. “Now, we only want to work for not conceding so many goals. If we want to be with the best teams in the league we have to not concede, so many goals in a match.”

The Spanish tactician fielded a very unique lineup with Javi Hernandez leading the lines for the Kalinga Warriors. The former ATK Mohun Bagan have scored three goals this season along with two assists all of this in just two matches. Speaking about his new role, Ramirez mentioned how Javi has earned his role in his team. He explained, ” At the end, coach, the coaching staff we want to select the players that are performing well in the training and also in the matches. Javi is doing both, so it’s an easy decision for him to make the lineup. He earned everything, it’s not about giving something for free. He earned it in the matches.”