Mikael Stahre reveals big update about this player's presence against East Bengal

Mikael Stahre was happy with his player’s performance.

Mikael Stahre’s Kerala Blasters are set to battle East Bengal FC in their second league fixture of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25, with their midfield general and club captain Adrian Luna unavailable due to injury. After a home defeat in their opening fixture against Punjab FC, the Tuskers are aiming for their first victory of the season against the Red and Gold Brigade at their beloved Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

However, the absence of the Uruguayan has taken a heavy toll on their hopes this season, as they lack a replacement for the diverse range of passes in his repertoire.

The 32-year-old midfielder was sidelined due to a knock he picked up in training before the season, which kept him out of the opening fixture against Punjab. He had also missed a chunk of the previous season after suffering a knee injury, until making his return in April 2024.

The Blaster’s head coach Mikael Stahre confirmed the player’s unavailability in the pre-match-conference held before the league fixture. “I spoke with him, and he seems alright. However, he hasn’t fully recovered yet and won’t be playing tomorrow. Hopefully, he’ll start practicing with the team soon and be ready for the next game,” said the Swedish manager.

Adrian Luna has been the midfield engine for the club in recent seasons, opening up the opposition’s defence with his visionary passing. The Blasters certainly felt his absence against Punjab, as there was a lack of effective passes into the final third which the manager specifically acknowledged after the game.

The team had to deploy Noah Sadaoui in the midfield, but this strategy didn’t bear fruit, forcing the manager to shift him to the wing for the second half. This stands in contrast with the Blasters’ scoring of many goals in the Durand Cup fixtures, with Luna in the midfield creating numerous chances.

Kerala Blasters will certainly will have to adapt to Luna’s absence in the middle of the park. The excellent display from Vibin Mohanan, returning from injury, has certainly been a silver lining for Stahre following the previous fixture. The Swedish tactician may need to rethink his ideologies and come up with a different setup to make the most of Vibin’s exquisite passing against East Bengal.

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