BFC coach Simon Grayson reveals why Javi Hernandez was not available against Odisha

The Englishman also spoke about his plans for the January transfer window.

Odisha FC hosted Simon Grayson’s Bengaluru FC in the opening match of Gameweek 4 of the Indian Super League 2022-23 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Left-winger Nandha Kumar scored the lone goal of the night in the 33rd minute to help the Juggernauts register a comfortable victory against the Blues at home.

Bengaluru FC head coach Simon Grayson addressed the media after the game.

On injured players

Head coach Grayson was confident of getting the injured players back ahead of the club’s upcoming match. “We don’t play nearly for 2 weeks now, so it’s kind of a good time. We can hope to have a few players back,” he said.

Simon also mentioned that he missed having Javi Hernández on the pitch as he is a player, who can change the game within minutes. He was also hopeful of having Javi and other injured players fit ahead of the club’s next match against East Bengal at home.

The Englishman also stated that it’s better to have more attacking options to create more chances and win matches.

Javi Hernandez not playing

When asked if Javi Hernandez not playing was a tactical move, the coach said, “His wife went into labour last week and he flew back to be there for the birth of his child”. The coach once again highlighted the importance of Javi and the value he brings to the team when he’s on the pitch.

Long break ahead of the next match

“Mixture of a few days of rest and recovery. Lots of hard work on the training pitch and hopefully by the time the next game comes along, we’ll have more players back from fitness available”. Simon Grayson also spoke about Prabir Das, who is currently not completely match fit. “Prabir is another attacking full-back, that we can bring into the team”, he added.

The coach also heaped praise on the new full-backs and was proud of their performances. He stated that they were good additions to the team. 

January transfer window

When asked about his January transfer window plans, Simon Grayson replied, “I think it’s probably too early to do that.”

He also added that currently, his focus is on constantly reviewing the player’s performances. He’ll look to give players opportunities in the remaining two months and will plan for the transfer window later.

Bengaluru FC will next play East Bengal at home on Friday, November 11. Meanwhile, Odisha FC will play their next game away from home against Hyderabad FC on Saturday, November 5.