Gerard Zaragoza outlines two factors that could determine the outcome of NorthEast United clash in ISL

The Blues will be looking to bounce back quickly after suffering their first defeat of the season.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza has issued a strong message to his team ahead of their match week 8 game against NorthEast United FC. The Blues are coming off a humbling 3-0 defeat at the hands of FC Goa as they look for a quick turnaround at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday.

The Spaniard head coach emphasized that his squad cannot rely on past performances. Intending to improve in the upcoming games, Gerard Zaragoza held a pre-match press conference, giving an insight into what’s happening behind the scenes.

The Blues are not going down without a fight

The 42-year-old was not running away from questions about their recent defeat and acknowledged that while the result was disappointing, his team learned a crucial lesson. He stated, “We are not negatively taking this. In the last game we lost, and in football, you can win, you can draw, you can lose.

“It was a bad result for us, but we are taking this as a lesson…What you did yesterday is not enough for today, and of course, what you do today is not enough for tomorrow. That means that we need to adapt. It says adapt or die. We are not going to die. We are going to fight.”

Gerard Zaragoza was looking at the defeat as a gentle reminder about success in football as a fleeting moment. He has drilled his men into maintaining momentum and that momentum requires constant evolution. The Blues coach will be hoping his players respond and reflect his resilience following a tough loss with a win against the Highlanders.

The Blues remain unbeaten at home

The record at home at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium is a significant source of pride for Gerard Zaragoza, who pointed to their four clean sheets and 12 points secured in four games this season. While talking about the record, he stated, “It’s important for our boys, it’s important for our players. If they put up a fight, all the people will fight with us.

“It’s not easy to play in Kanteerava, and tomorrow is another day to play against a great team, with a great striker. A team who now, at this moment, is in a positive mood. It’s a moment to show our strength.”

Bengaluru FC remains only one of two ISL teams who continue to remain unbeaten in the league at home this season. They haven’t conceded a single goal at home this season and Gerard Zaragoza will be hoping to keep the run going on Friday.

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Gerard Zaragoza hails Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s impact this season

Following their 3-0 loss against FC Goa, a player whose performance was scrutinized the most was Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Spaniard, however, was quick to jump to the defense of Bengaluru’s No.1 while lauding the team’s collective effort. While singling out the Indian goalkeeper, Gerard Zaragoza stated, “We have Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who is the top player of the season till now. Not the top goalkeeper, the top player. And we want him to continue like this.”

Gerard Zaragoza also added that it will not just be a single player but rather the team as a collective that dictates how far the Blues go this season.

The upcoming game against NorthEast United FC will be more than three points for Zaragoza and his Blues. It’s gonna be the first sign for West Block Blues of how the team responds following a tough result. Building off of Zaragoza’s words, the club seems poised to rise to the upcoming Highlanders challenge.

While there is an added stake in protecting their unbeaten record, holding their top spot at the end of the regular season will be at the top of their agendas.

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