When you lose a game, you can learn and become better, says Ivan Vukomanovic

Ivan Vukomanovic also shed light on how injuries have derailed Kerala Blasters from their top performance.

Kerala Blasters suffered a narrow defeat against Bengaluru FC in the ongoing season of the Indian Super League at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on 2 March 2024. The solitary goal by Javi Hernandez meant that KBFC’s winless run at this stadium would continue.

Despite coming out in large numbers to support their club, fans of the Yellow Army left the stands disappointed after seeing the outfit suffer their sixth defeat of the season; their fourth in the last five matches. Ivan Vukomanovic, head coach of the Kerala Blasters, talked about dealing with injuries, playing in a hostile atmosphere, and more during the post-match press conference. 

Here are the excerpts:

Marred by injuries

Kerala Blasters have been extremely unlucky with injuries this term, losing several key players for the season. As a consequence, the Yellow Army had to field youngsters to compete. Speaking in this regard, Ivan Vukomanovic said, “If you lose two players, it is huge, you have to change many things. For us, it was nine players and players like Adrian Luna, Kwame Peprah, and Marko Leskovic, guys who were making a difference. Now we are going through the process of making it to the end of the season and we are going to work our socks off.”

A full stadium

Talking about the massive crowd at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium and if his team felt any sort of pressure as a result, the head coach said, “It is nothing new because we play in this kind of atmosphere in every home game or even better. Every time we come here, it is a full stadium which does not happen very often, only when we come. It never happens when we watch the games. Our fans like to see us play here, we like to play here, and I want every game to be like that in the whole of India, and in every stadium.”

Message for the fans

Kerala Blasters enjoys a great deal of support even when the team is on the road. Coming away with a defeat due to a late goal was a huge letdown for the fans. Addressing them and thanking them for their support, Ivan Vukomanovic said, “I understand the disappointment because as a coach, you are responsible for many things. I would like it to be perfect because, without the fans, we are nothing. We want to give our everything for the fans every time we play. When you lose a game, you can learn and become better. I would tell the fans to not worry. We will stay together in this fight, continue and try to make them proud.”

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