ISL 2022-23: This win is dedicated to our fans: Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic

Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic dedicated the win against Hyderabad FC to their fans. The Tuskers defeated the defending champions by 1-0 at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday to give the Nizams their first loss of the season.

Dimitrios Diamantakos scored in the 18th minute of the game to give a 1-0 lead to his team, which was enough for them to secure three points.

The visitors took a total of four shots on target as they came up with a fine effort. Furthermore, this is the first time that Kerala Blasters FC has won three matches in a row in the history of Hero ISL.

Sharing his thoughts on the game, Ivan Vukomanovic said in the post-match press conference, “Well, we knew before the game, seeing the fact that Hyderabad FC is one of the best teams in the league. We know that it will be a tough game. It will be a kind of ugly game with lots of duels, lots of difficult situations decisions for everybody, for players, for referees and we knew also coming from losing the finals. We knew that if we want to achieve something today we need to be organized, we need to be compact, and concentrate on set-pieces, and on every possible detail in order to get the points because now we are in the moment where actually we need to fight for every point.”

He added, “We need to be focused we need to be concentrating because this year even if it’s top six, we want to look like a team who is tough to beat we want to be strong in every possible aspect. Especially after three defeats in a row, we needed to change certain things about the approach or the mentality of the character and now with three victories in a row which is for us as a club, let’s say a historical moment because it never happened in the history of our club. And of course, this is the momentum that we need to continue building up now we have two weeks in front of us in the next game. We need to be very calm we need to be humble knowing what’s our position, knowing who we are, how we need to act, and how we need to prepare for the next period.”

He continued, “Of course, this victory means a lot to us. It means a lot to us to our fans. Special thanks to them for coming here, and cheering us also a great achievement for us as again as a club and for our owner. He is actually from Hyderabad and this victory is actually dedicated to him and his family and all the fans who are supporting us today not only here but around Kerala. In the first half, we were organized, scoring and then dropping down a little bit. Trying to stay compact, not allowing our opponents to create chances. We knew that we need to stay compact, especially Bartholomew (Ogbeche) he’s one of the best strikers in the league and we knew that if you allow not only him but the other players space between the lines they can punish you anytime they want. So that’s why we wanted to be more organized and more defensive, which resulted also in a second half where we didn’t want to concede, there were chances on both sides. It could have gone both sides but actually, in the end, we are very clearly happy with three points.”

Vukomanovic gave his gratitude to the fans, who have supported the club throughout its journey.

He concluded, “That kind of feeling is something that you cannot describe the way they push you not only playing at home tonight we saw that in difficult moments they are here behind you to keep your back, you know as a player also, I can speak about love, let’s say experiences but not it’s not the case. Now, I think that the players when they’re on the beach and when they feel this kind of support, they go over the limits. They go and push even harder.”

Kerala Blasters FC will next face Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur on 4th December.