Mikael Stahre admits 'missing' this one Kerala Blasters player: ISL

The Swedish tactician marked his first victory in Indian football.

Kerala Blasters FC and their fans had a euphoric night as Kwame Peprah’s dramatic 88th-minute strike found the back of the net, securing their first victory of the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season in a thrilling clash against East Bengal FC. This also marked the debut victory of their new head coach Mikael Stahre on Indian soil. With his team earning their first points of the season, the Swedish tactician shared some intriguing insights about their progress.

Despite the team securing a much-anticipated victory, there were clear areas for improvement throughout the game, and Stahre certainly did not shy away from addressing their weaknesses. The manager said, “Obviously, we have been struggling in our offensive game. It was another closely matched contest, but we were better than the last game. We kept the ball better today, and some changes we made worked out for us in this game.”

Mikael Stahre, when asked about the reason behind their struggle in the final third, said “Honestly, we are missing Adrian Luna – someone who can play passes into the final third, keep the ball, assist, shoot, and score. He is one of the best players in the league and his unavailability is one of the major reasons for our struggle.”

Danish Farooq was deployed as an attacking midfielder in Mikael Stahre’s setup for the match. Playing out of position, the midfielder attempted to break through the defence, once creating a shooting opportunity for Jesus Jimenez that struck the woodwork. However, his performance was not deemed good enough to fill Luna’s boots. “I think Danish had a very good game, but he is a different type of player. He is more of a fighter – someone who can relentlessly press with great intensity and chase after every ball. He forces mistakes from the opposition with his tireless pressing and chasing. I think he did really well in the first half in Luna’s role, despite not being an attacking midfielder,” said the mentor.

Vibin Mohanan has stabilised the Blaster’s midfield in his first start of the season. The youngster was composed and press-resistant in the middle. He was replaced after 75 minutes, showing signs of fatigue. When asked about the substitution, Stahre replied, “Vibin was cramping towards the end of the game. He was struggling with another injury before. Considering this was his first game in a long time, he played 75 minutes with high intensity. Vibin helps us a lot with his positioning and he also keeps possession of the ball.”

Mikael Stahre, reflecting on his team’s standing, stated, “I believe we are progressing but we are certainly not complete. I think it is really important that we take points down the road as we progress because it builds confidence. This win was important for the table, the atmosphere, the team, and the fans.”

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