Bengaluru FC focused on improving attacking game in ISL
Having struggled to score goals in ISL 2020-21 so far, the Sunil Chhetri-led Bengaluru FC will be keen to find solutions to their problems at the earliest.
Former Indian Super League (ISL) champions Bengaluru FC have had an uncharacteristic start to their season.
For a team that’s often scored goals in plenty, Bengaluru FC have struggled to hit the ground running this ISL 2020-21. In the two matches so far, both drawn, the Carles Cuadrat-coached side has had a total of 12 shots, of which just three have been on target - the least by any team in the league.
It’s an issue that their Spanish coach hopes to address before Bengaluru FC’s next match against neighbours Chennaiyin FC on Friday.
“We have to improve on some aspects. The problem is we are not winning many duels in the attacking third. We are lacking the last pass,” Carles Cuadrat admitted during the pre-match press conference on Thursday.
“We are showing consistency. We showed how we want to play. But we are not making it count. But I think we will shift the momentum after the next game and be the protagonist.”
Carles Cuadrat has had about three weeks to work with the team before ISL 2020-21 kicked-off. Though it might not be the ideal preparation that the Spaniard wanted, he isn’t complaining.
“We are very close to getting that last pass. We need to be a little bit fresher physically and mentally,” Cuadrat said.
“In training, I see we have players who can do that. There are players like Cleiton Silva, Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, Dimas Delgado and others who can take that initiative.
“This season has been different. Normally you have four-five weeks in pre-season to make things happen and prepare your body for the 90 minutes. But that hasn't happened this time. I hope it will happen for us in the coming weeks.”
Up against the two-time champions Chennaiyin FC in their next fixture, Carles Caudrat realises that Bengaluru FC will have to be on top of their game if they are to get anything from the match.
“We are expecting a tough game. They have good foreigners and good Indians in Lallianzuala Chhangte and Anirudh Thapa too,” Caudrat pointed out.
“In general, the Indians are performing a lot better since the last three seasons. Players like Suresh Wangjam and Ashique Kuruniyan have improved so much and they joined us last season. It is a really good sign for Indian football,” Cuadrat signed-off.