What key thoughts did Panagiotis Dilmperis share on Nihal Sudeesh after Punjab's win?

Nihal Sudeesh was named the player of the match on his debut for the club.

Punjab FC kicked off their 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) campaign in style, securing a dramatic victory over Kerala Blasters with a stoppage-time winner. The game was nearing a stalemate, but the three goals in the final ten minutes altered the narrative of the game, silencing the crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, credit to the substitutions from Panagiotis Dilmperis. The Greek manager was full of praise for the players who came off the bench.

The electric atmosphere in Kochi is always a challenge for any away team. In response to that, Panagiotis Dilmperis said, “First, I have to acknowledge the stadium and the fans. I was surprised to see that there was no drop in energy and the atmosphere remained intense until the very end.

“Once we took the lead, we wanted to change the formation and deploy Nikhil Prabhu as a third centre-back, but it was so loud that we couldn’t communicate the instructions. Had we managed to do that, I believe we could have prevented that goal.”

#NihalSudheesh was a live wire down the wing! ⚡#KBFCPFC #ISL #LetsFootball #ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 #PunjabFC #NihalSudeesh #ISLPOTM | @RGPunjabFC @JioCinema @Sports18 pic.twitter.com/HPXcYbVpxA

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) September 15, 2024

When asked about the team’s performance, the manager stated, “We controlled the game well in the first half. Apart from chances that opened up from counterattacks, the opposition didn’t see much of the ball. We created plenty of opportunities and kept possession right on the edge of their box.

“Noah’s shifting to the left wing in the second half made things difficult for us. We tried to stop him from receiving the ball, and the defence dealt with him effectively. The substitutes helped us to win the game, all of the boys who came off the bench did great. Leon won us the penalty, and Luka converted it and assisted the second goal.”

Nihal Sudeesh had a great game on the flanks against his parent club, clinching the Player of the Match award for his performance in the game. The Greek tactician shared an intriguing insight on the winger, “Football is my religion and I don’t play politics with it. I have to be honest with my first impression of Nihal. When he came into our squad, I was certain that he wasn’t part of my plans. However, as the days progressed, he worked his way into the team, credit to his hard work and discipline.

“I am trying to take advantage of his strength and speed and put him to good use. I want him to focus on improving the quality of his first touch, which will take his game to the next level. Congratulations to him for winning the award and showing the world what he can do.”

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