Playoffs demand different mindset and approach, says Kerala Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanovic

The tactician indicated that it was a tough game for both sides

Kerala Blasters FC ended their league stage of the 2023-24 Indian Super League season with a convincing 3-1 win away from against Hyderabad FC on Friday. Ivan Vukomanovic’s men have hit the right vein of form at the perfect time with the playoffs nearing.

The tactician spoke about having to adjust to injuries throughout the campaign. He also pointed out how the game tonight was tough and why Hyderabad FC players deserve praise too. 

Here are the excerpts from the conversation with the media representatives:

Analysis of the match

Looking back at the game, Ivan Vukomanovic said, “I must say immediately that this was one of the most difficult games of the season. It’s kind of the game where there was no result importance for either side. Then when you see and think about everything that both teams and both clubs have been going through this season, so this kind of game today was the tough, the tough one for both sides. For one side, I would say and repeat what I said a couple of days ago that Hyderabad FC, this young group of players deserve one medal for this season. For everything that they’ve been going through, with all the issues, all the problems, being there, always present, with enthusiasm, motivation, so big praise for them, congratulations for them for this kind of season, to stay motivated every game.

On the other hand, also I have big praise for our team because today again we had a couple of players playing in the position that they are not used to playing because again we are suffering from some issues, some cards that we didn’t want to take risks today. with, again, the feeling of playing this kind of last game where everything was already decided. It was kind of sometimes you have this family gathering, where everybody has to come. But nobody wants to be there. And then you have to go two hours for that, sitting there and maybe listening to one drunk uncle who will be there to insult everybody and this kind of game today that we wanted to win we wanted to get those points for us as an important positive mental boost for the next week for the playoffs so it was kind of weird feeling not having that high motivation again yet you have to be motivated you have to be ready you have to be concentrated for everything.

And so today we managed to do that. It was a tough game, it was difficult because the young team of Hyderabad has good young players who are promising a nice future. And of course, I’m really happy with the result with three points.”

A different mindset in the playoffs

The tactician also spoke about having the playoffs and that it requires a completely different mindset. Ivan Vukomanovic said, “Flying back and recovering some players who were not with us, going through this next week with three or four good training sessions to prepare for the next game depending on who we are playing. It will not be easy of course, whether we go and play Odisha or play in Goa, for us it will be the tough one. So in the playoffs, it’s a completely different mindset, different approach. It goes about one game, it’s a knockout phase, you want to be there ready with the full potential, with the maximum that you have and try to get the best out of it. Of course to take a rest to refresh and get ready for the game and like I always like to say let’s go there, the better team wins.”

Losing players to injuries

Similar to his previous interviews, Ivan Vukomanovic once again talked about suffering from multiple long-term injuries throughout the season. He said, “For everybody in Kerala, it would be awesome if we could go through, because we would like to play that semi-final, let’s say, we would like to have that semi-final feeling in front of our fans. Even in the last period, in January, again, it is a suffering period, we lost so many key players, who we could not recover till the end of the season. Throughout the whole season, we never managed to play with the strongest team. There was always somebody missing, there’s always somebody falling down, suspensions, injuries and it’s a pity that we had a kind of nice run but then when you lose so many key players it becomes complicated, it becomes difficult. But of course, if we can later we will do all the best possible. We would like to have that feeling in front of our fans and then hopefully later with the help of the fans anything is possible.”

On key players returning to full fitness

The head coach gave updates regarding key players coming back into the fold after recovering. Vukomanovic said, “Today, we took some players outside because they had three yellow cards and we did not want to lose anybody before the playoffs. Last year, we were gambling and lost two players before the playoffs. That kind of led to a bad feeling. The point is also that many of our players who play today in the last games, deserve to play as well. They are young, promising players. They need to play more and need to get playing time. They need to grow up. They miss experience, even in some parts of the game, they still cannot recognize what they have to do. It’s still poor in decision-making, but this kind of thing you get by playing games. So in our club, this is also part of the vision of our owners, club structure that you always want to produce these young players because they are the important asset of the club. Not only for our club but maybe tomorrow for the Indian national team as well, allowing them to play, to show their quality, they become better.

We are proud of them, not only of young players but we are proud of all our players. They are giving everything because playing in Kerala, especially the defence, is special. They need to give, give them. So hopefully now that we can recover players, maybe like Diamantakos, and Luna, who are important. There is a big question but let’s say, buffed out after these short-term pre-games fixtures, where actually they had discomfort. So now it’s a big question mark if we can recover them for playoffs. I find it a little bit annoying because instead of having a normal fixture period where we can build up towards the playoffs, these fixtures actually provoke that some of them, they’re out. And now actually, when you’re entering playoffs maybe you cannot be the best you can so it’s kind of disappointing but again not an excuse you’ll have to fight with the weapons we have so we’ll do our best.”

On Adrian Luna’s possible return

Talking about the club’s skipper, Vukomanovic said, “Adrian Luna started practising with the team last week, so we’ll see now if he’s available. Of course, after so long, four and a half months after surgery, we should be careful. Even today, we had an idea to get him some playing time, but he was also on the 3 yellow cards so then we decided not to bring him, now of course, if it’s possible he will be there with us because he’s a great player he proved that so many times in ISL in the previous two and a half seasons. We are sorry that we didn’t have him for most of our season. I think with him and maybe Peprah as well, Diamantakos when they are in form, are unstoppable.

Don’t forget that we didn’t have Jeakson for four months. Sachin (Suresh) is out. Even the Sotirio, who arrived in the third four training, he got injured. So we missed so much quality throughout the season and for us, it was always improvisation trying to find the right formula, and building up team dynamics. And then when we actually reached that kind of level we wanted, again, there was somebody falling apart. And it was exhausting. For us, and me as a coach, it was the most difficult season I’ve had in my life, to manage everything around the team, so many issues that sometimes you cannot control. So it’s exhausting. We are exhausted, and we hope to rock and roll now for the last period, the last couple of weeks if possible and then we are done.”

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