ISL 2022-23: We need to handle ourselves well at the top end of the pitch, and create enough chances – Simon Grayson

Bengaluru FC head coach Simon Grayson feels they need to handle themselves well at the top end of the pitch and create enough chances to be successful after his team suffered a 1-0 loss against defending champions Hyderabad FC at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad on Saturday.

Grayson believes his team needs to find the correct formula to be successful as a unit. Hyderabad FC talisman striker Bartholomew Ogbeche was able to put the team in front in the 83rd minute and secured three points for his team.

This was the first loss of the season for the Blues and they will be determined to make a solid return.

Asked whether it was a fair result, Simon Grayson said in the post-match press conference, “It was a close game and I think we defended very well on a really difficult pitch for both the teams. The pitch was a talking point before the game and it was not easy out there for the players to take the touch of the ball and cross it in the open spaces. We did not deal properly with a long ball towards the end of the match, the goalkeeper had to punch it. But you absolutely cannot blame him (Gurpreet Singh Sandhu) who has been fantastic since he has been at this football club. The overall thought process of the game was we need to be better while in possession and keep hold of the ball, not giving it away too cheaply.”

He added, “We need to handle ourselves well at the top end of the pitch, and create enough chances. We are all in this together and it is a learning curve for everyone at this football club during this early part of the season. It was certainly not easy to come out empty handed from the game considering the way we lost. It is on me to find a solution, we were out with quite a few important players tonight. Roy Krishna did not play, Prince Ibara has been injured and out all season. We are a young squad and need to keep getting better, not just me and the coaching staff but everyone as a whole.”

Grayson admitted that the forward line was not at its best as they failed to create chances. The visitors took only two shots on target and could not ask the right questions against the reigning champions.

He said, “It is indeed difficult when you do not have enough options available. We went with two up-front in a 3-4-1-2 formation. With Javi Hernandez in the team from whom you expect creativity, has not been fit through the pre-season, and tonight it was his first outing of the Hero ISL 2022-23 season. I started Sivasakthi Narayanan and Sunil Chhetri where one has got the pace and the other has a ton of experience, but we needed to be a bit clever on the ball to ask the opposition (Hyderabad FC) a few questions and as I said it was not easy out there.”

Bengaluru FC will next take on Odisha FC at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar on Thursday.