Andrey Chernyshov reflects key points after Mohammedan SC's loss against Kerala Blasters FC in ISL

Poor second-half performance comes back to bite the Black Panthers against the Tuskers.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Mohammedan SC head coach Andrey Chernyshov would be lamenting defensive lapses once again following their 3-0 defeat to Kerala Blasters in Matchweek 13. The loss marks their ninth defeat of the season with silly mistakes across the backline leaving Chernyshov with more frustration.

Despite a strong start in the first half, Mohammedan SC struggled to contain their opponents on the night in the second half. Facing a Kerala Blasters side that recently parted ways with manager Mikael Stahre, interim manager TG Purushothaman will be happy with the result.

A fixture that was a must-win game for both sides, Chernyshov and his men haven’t been able to adapt to the gulf in quality from the I-League to the ISL. While addressing the media in the post-match press conference, the Russian shared his thoughts about the game.

Kerala Blasters were the better team

The Black Panthers head coach was complimentary of Kerala Blasters on their victory and commended the electric atmosphere created by the 25,000-30,000 fans in attendance. While speaking about the passionate fans, “This is football when so many people come to watch and support the game.”

Analyzing the match, Andrey Chernyshov acknowledged his side’s disciplined and organized performance in the first half, however highlighted the Blasters’ superiority. Andrey Chernyshov stated, “But first half, it was not bad for us. But after this serious mistake, we went a little bit down. When one quality team like Kerala Blasters, they got more confidence and more power to this. When they scored the first goal, it was very difficult to play. But we did all that we had.”

Andrey Chernyshov laments offensive struggles

While the head coach praised his team’s effort to fight back, he admitted that their ongoing struggles in front of goal remain a critical issue. Introducing new players on the back of a good first half didn’t pay off for the Russian manager. Andrey Chernyshov stated, “When you don’t score, you cannot win matches. Now it’s a really big problem for us to score. When we start to score, then I think the situation will be better for us. But in the moment, it’s like that.”

However, Chernyshov expressed optimism that his team to regain their scoring touch and their fortunes to improve in the coming games. With 5 points in 12 games this season, the Black Panthers need to find their feet after their latest loss.

The gap between I-League and ISL is showing

Speaking on the season so far, Andrey Chernyshov acknowledged the steep learning curve his team faces in their transition from the I-League to the ISL. He stated, “There is a big gap in quality, and while we started the championship well, losing matches has affected our mentality and power.”

However, despite the setbacks, the Russian head coach remains confident in his players’ dedication and professionalism. While the season hasn’t gone according to plan, Chernyshov stated, “We are not stopping. We will continue to work, play, and change this situation.”

With the season progressing just past the halfway point, Mohammedan SC will look to give a good account of themselves in the next game. Despite having no luck and a test by fire in the league, Chernyshov holds his unwavering belief in the squad at his disposal.

If the team is hoping to overcome their current struggles and restore confidence in the matches to come, winning matches will be key for the Russian head coach and his men.

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