India game will be like a final to Nepal, says Vincenzo Alberto Annese

The Nepal head coach demands attacking intent from his team.

Nepal suffered a 3-1 loss against Kuwait in the opening fixture of the SAFF Championship 2023, hindering the chances of making it out of the group to the semi-finals.

With the new-look side completely outclassed in the first half, Anjan Bista scored for the 2021 edition finalists in the dying minutes of the second half.

Nepal's head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese spoke to the media following the opening-day defeat.

Analyzing the defeat

Annese pointed out to lack of experience in the squad as the primary reason for the defeat, coupled with individual errors in the first half.

"We did not play at all in the first half. We were nervous and lacked experience. We could see that our opponents were aged and had played more games than us," he said.

"We made mistakes in set-pieces as we conceded one of the goals in a corner kick. We conceded one off a counter-attack. We did well in the defensive phase but were scared when we had the ball. We had too much respect for our opponents in that regard," Annese explained.

However, the former NorthEast United head coach lauded the side's improved performance in the second half.

"The positive to take from this game is the second half. We need to carry on and play more on the attacking side. In India, I made the record for scoring the most goals in an I-League campaign. I want my team to attack since we are strong in attack and we can do better," he added.

The road ahead in the tournament

Asked about Nepal's chances, the Italian acknowledged the upcoming challenges against India and Pakistan. He said the next match against the hosts will be as important as the final.

"The next game will be like a final for us," Annese said. "India-Nepal clash is always huge and it will be memorable since I have spent time in India and I know their players."

He also maintained praise for the Pakistan squad including players with European experience.

"They have many international players in Pakistan, and I'm sure they have a very good side this time," he added.

Nepal's young squad and Anjan Bista's importance

Possessing the youngest squad in this year's tournament, Nepal's head coach said in the pre-match conference that competitive exposure matters more to nurture players.

Annese re-iterated his realistic goals of using this year's championship as a platform to build a formidable side in the future.

"We have a young team. Ayush [Ghalan], Awas [Lamichhane], and the other boys are only 20 or 21 years old. I think Nepal have a bright future if the players stay in the country," he said.

The former Gokulam Kerala head coach also praised Anjan Bista's improved performance in the second half, who is now just three goals shy of being Nepal's top scorer.

"Anjan has shown that he possesses good quality as a player. He missed two or three passes, analyzed them, and played well in the second half. He pressed very well, and he covered the ball very well," he added.

"We have another game in our experience and that's a step forward. Even though we lost 3-1 against Kuwait, we learned a lot and we can get better for the next game," he concluded.