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ISL- Indian Super League

Panagiotis Dilmperis ‘laments’ this attribute after loss against Kerala Blasters FC in ISL

Published at :January 6, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Modified at :January 6, 2025 at 12:54 PM
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(Courtesy : ISL media)

Anuj T


The Shers slumped to their seventh defeat of the season against a nine-men Tuskers side.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis endured yet another frustrating evening as they slumped to a narrow 1-0 loss to Kerala Blasters FC in matchweek 15. Despite the visitors playing with a two-man advantage for the final 20 minutes, the Shers failed to capitalize on their opportunities.

The result has extended their winless streak to four games and it might officially mean panic stations among the club’s adoring supporters.

The loss means Punjab have continued their spiral down the ISL league standings and now sit at the eighth spot. Dilmperis was lamenting missed opportunities after the game in the post-match press conference.

Panagiotis Dilmperis had mixed feelings after the loss

The Greek head coach reflected on the result with a mix of disappointment and optimism. Panagiotis Dilmperis stated, “It’s been a tough month. Any mistake we make, we have to pay for it. I’m not disappointed with the performance, but we lacked the final touch, especially in the second half.”

The match which was tightly contested, witnessed Punjab executing a defensive strategy designed to neutralize Kerala‘s key players, such as Adrian Luna and Noah Sadaoui. For much of the game, the plan worked for the Shers as they restricted the Tuskers to long-range efforts and set-piece opportunities.

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Defensive lapses strike down Punjab again

However, Sadaoui’s first-half strike in the 44th minute proved to be the decisive blow in the game. A defensive lapse in the second half led to a costly penalty against Punjab, which Noah converted to secure Kerala’s victory.

While talking about the decisive moment, Panagiotis Dilmperis stated, “It’s hard to explain the penalty incident. We discussed how to handle Noah, and Suresh has the experience to avoid such mistakes, but it was a bad moment.”

Punjab FC failed to capitalize once again

What was glaring in the game was the Shers’ inability to make the most of their numerical advantage in the closing stages, adding to the frustration. Despite creating a handful of opportunities, the team lacked composure in the final third.

While talking about the closing stages of the game, Panagiotis Dilmperis stated, “The last 20 minutes were unusual. We don’t often train for 10 versus 8 situations. Some players rushed decisions, trying long balls when we didn’t have a target striker.”

Setting positive examples for the future stars

The 50-year-old head coach expressed particular concern for his younger players, who have been thrust into prominent roles amid injuries to starting 11 players. While expressing a need for good results, Dilmperis stated, “These kids need successful results to build confidence and a winning culture. Players like Kipgen, Pramveer, and Suhail have shown potential, but results will help them grow.”

Looking ahead at the remaining games this season, Panagiotis Dilmperis expressed the need to hope and believe they can turn this around amidst the mounting challenges. As the Greek coach continues to push, the Shers’ passionate fans are sure to back their team despite their poor run of results in recent games.

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