ISL 2021:22 – We must improve defensively if we are to be a serious team – Odisha FC coach Kiko Ramirez

Odisha FC coach Kiko Ramirez admitted that his team must improve defensively if they want to be a serious team in the ongoing Hero Indian Super League 2021-22. Ramirez was a tad disappointed with his team despite their 6-4 win over SC East Bengal at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Tuesday.

Odisha was 0-1 down as Sideol scored the opening goal for SC East Bengal in the 13th minute. However, Kiko Ramirez’s men bounced back in style as they took a 4-1 lead.

When it looked that Odisha will easily go on to win the game, SC East Bengal came back stronger and scored thrice in the last 10 minutes of the game. The margin was then 5-4 but Aridai Suarez was able to put the match to bed as he scored in the 90th minute.

Ramirez said in the press conference, “It was a crazy match and as a coach, you don’t like that. We are worried about some aspects that we need to correct because that can’t happen in a top-flight match. We have to work a lot if we want to be a serious team. It would have been a wonderful match for the fans because a lot of goals happened but not for the coaches”.

Meanwhile, Odisha FC striker Javi has been in sublime form as he has scored three goals for the team thus far. Javi scored at the stroke of halftime for Odisha. Ramirez decided to start with the in-form forward and also revealed his reason.

Ramirez added, “We want to pick the player that is performing well during training and as far as Javi is concerned, he is performing in training as well as the match. It’s an easy decision for us to have him in the line-up. He has earned it”.

Odisha gaffe highlighted that the team needs to improve their defense as conceding four goals is not a good sign.

Ramirez concluded, “As of now we want to work towards not conceding so many goals. If we want to be with the best teams in the league we need to work and not concede so many goals in the match”.

Odisha FC will next face Kerala Blasters FC on Sunday at the same venue of Tilak Maidan Stadium.