Roca aims to keep fortress intact, Portugal looks to keep winning on the road

Both managers are expecting an evenly matched contest.

Bengaluru FC host Delhi Dynamos FC in their second match of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday. Both teams have picked up victories in their opening fixtures of the season. The Blues, playing their second successive home game will aim for another three points against a resolute Delhi side.

Speaking to the media during the pre-match press conference was their gaffer, Albert Roca. On being asked how he was evaluating Sunday’s fixture, he said, “I think it will be a tough game. Firstly, because of the coach. Miguel Angel Portugal has some huge experience behind him. I saw how organised his team was in just one game, and also the idea that they had behind it. So, we have to be ready for a battle. I know how tough it was for Delhi to play in Pune, but they won, so it gives them a lot of confidence. Tomorrow, they will go to the pitch with a good sensation that a team can have – similar to us."

"So, I think it’s going to be a really even battle. Let’s see if we are able to put them in trouble, and force them to play in a way they don’t want to. We have to press and take risks to push them. If we do these things well, then we can have better chances to win.

“It is important to win here in our fortress. It’s always important, especially in the beginning when we try to settle down and gain some confidence. I am not so happy with the performance in the first game, so we have to grow up. It’s not just a question of winning, but how we win. Everyone wants to win, sure, but for me, the strategy is the question,“ he added.

He also gave an insight as to how he was preparing his team for the match and the strategies and tactics they would like to follow. “I think we will not change too much. The way that we play is trying to get the ball, keeping the ball in control, building from behind and taking a risk sometimes. Tomorrow, if we are leading from the beginning, it’s nice."

"But, if we are not, we have to continue playing. It’s the second game, so we have to try and do things, and to adjust. We know it’s not easy for us to win games, but I have trust in my squad, and I think we can make things better and win games as we want,” he explained.

He also emphasised on the areas his team needed to improve in. “I think we have to improve,” Roca admitted. “It seems like when you are winning, then everything is fine. No, I think we still have to fill up many gaps if we are to be a better team and have a chance in this Championship. Our first goal is to be in the top four, which gives us a chance to play for the title. But, we have to improve everywhere."

"I push the players to get our goals. This for me is the most important thing. We always have a feedback on where we did well and what we did wrong. We always have to improve, and you will see that it will never be 100% perfect. It’s to try to find the right way to win, or try to win,” he concluded.

Also Read

Buoyant Bengaluru host hotshots Delhi with both teams looking to lay down early marker

Everybody wants to play in the top league and ISL is the top league of the country- Debjit Majumder

ATK look to overcome Pune curse as both teams crave first win

"The team that scores first definitely has that boost in confidence and tends to do well throughout the game- Portugal

 

After having defeated FC Pune City 3-2 in their opening fixture, Delhi will be looking to bank on their recent form to register their second away win in a row and go to the top of the points table.

Present at the pre-match press conference was Delhi’s head coach, Miguel Angel Portugal who graciously acknowledged the rival team’s quality and the raging fan support they have. “Bengaluru FC is a really good team. They had a winning start to the season, just like us. We're looking forward to facing them. As far as the crowd goes, we like to play football in such an atmosphere,” he said.

He also heaped praises on Bengaluru’s coach Albert Roca and stressed the fact that it would be a completely different ball-game when compared to Pune. “It (the situation) is different for Bengaluru. They are a very good team and Roca is a very good coach. We have something in mind, that we hope we can execute against them and win the game,” he said.

He further added, “I hope we score first against them. The team that scores first definitely has that boost in confidence and tends to do well throughout the game.”

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Though Delhi was unable to stop Pune’s two goals in the second half, Portugal did not read much into it. Rather when asked about injuries, he concluded on a lighter note by saying, “No player injuries. Only the coach is injured and he won't be playing the game.”