Mikael Stahre reveals Kerala Blasters squad status ahead of upcoming game

The Swedish manager reflected on the loss against Punjab FC.

Kerala Blasters are set to battle East Bengal FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. The Tuskers are ready to bounce back from an injury-time disappointment against Punjab FC in their season opener, conceding twice in the dying minutes of the game. Mikael Stahre shared his takeaways on the loss and the side’s chances for the next fixture.  

The tactician when asked about Kerala Blasters’ defeat in the opening game, said, “We were pretty poor, to be honest. We hardly conceded any chances, but we were not good enough from a tactical perspective and committed many errors. We displayed more energy, had more of the ball, and also created some chances but it was a hard loss to digest in the dying seconds. It is hard to handle, but it is normal for us, coaches and we have to move forward. The lads have been practicing well this week, I am hopeful that we can bring more to the table.”

The team paired their French defender, Alexander Coeff, with Freddy Lallawmawma to achieve stability in midfield. Mikael Stahre was asked if he finds the Blasters’ midfield ‘too weak,’ which led him to line up five defenders instead. The Kerala Blasters manager said, “You can elevate things differently. It was more from a tactical structure perspective and it was not a big problem for us. I think we were not strong enough in the crucial moments – sometimes lacking quality, and other times just a bit unlucky. I don’t see it as a big tactical mistake or the midfield being too weak, but we were obviously not good enough.

“We expect way more from the team, have to play with more energy, and especially need to keep more possession upfront so that we can sustain the pressure on the opposition. There are many things to analyse from the first game, and we have to raise the level in all perspectives, as I perceive it.”

Adrian Luna has been a major absence for Kerala Blasters in the middle of the park. Speaking on Luna’s availability Mikael Stahre summarised, “I spoke with him, and he seems alright. However, he hasn’t fully recovered yet and won’t be playing tomorrow. Luna is an important player but these things are normal in football. We have a good team and we will find solutions. He’ll watch the game from the stands tomorrow. Hopefully, he’ll start practicing with the team soon and be ready to play.”

Stahre shared his thoughts on the opposition and improvements the team has to make going into the fixture, as he said, “You always have to go into game looking for a win. We are aware of the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses. We have a clear view on the opponents, and they have their weaknesses as well.”

“We should not necessarily have the ball possession for the majority of the game, but have to cross the halfway-line more often with control so that we can bring more numbers higher up. We can also counter-press in a better way. We can create more spaces and put in crosses when we have more players inside the box. We were lacking numbers higher up the pitch and that was the biggest struggle in the first half against Punjab FC. We should also remember, it’s not just about the pressing or offensive game, but the connection between ball possession and defending.”

The head coach, when asked if playing at home adds pressure, stated “We have to play like a home team, like a winning team. We have an amazing fanbase showing up in thousands, so we have to play with a lot of energy and that I think is the key. Now that the stadium occupancy is back to 100 percent, we are expecting more energy. I think our playing style also requires the support from the fans, and it was fantastic last time, and will be even better with a fully packed stadium.”

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