Carles Cuadrat: Raphael Augusto is 100% out for season

The Spaniard addressed in detail the team's stance this season, fitness concerns and new signings.

Indian Super League powerhouse Bengaluru FC will be looking to get back to winning ways when they travel to Kochi to take on Kerala Blasters in the weekend. The Blues are coming into this tie on the back of a motivating 9-1 home victory in the AFC Cup. However, at the same time, FC Goa’s league victory ensured that the reigning champions cannot finish in the top spot. Ahead of the trip to Kerala, Bengaluru FC head coach Carles Cuadrat addressed the media along with shot-stopper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill on Thursday. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

The AFC Cup Win

Carles Cuadrat began the proceedings with thougts from his side's win in the AFC Cup on Wednesday. “I think it will help the players get confidence, the ones that were not getting a lot of goals, from yesterday they might have got a new dynamic, which will help them score more often," he said.

Possible Squad Rotation

“We really want to go for all the points and I don’t really believe in rotation. Sometimes you rotate the squad and the plan is not working, and even it’s worse for the player, because he loses the rhythm, so no, we will go for the three points,” the Spaniard revealed.

The Players’ Fitness

"Rino (Anto) will be ready for the trip to Maldives, maybe not Kerala but the trip to Maldives. The other players are all just the same. Sunil and Juanan have nothing but have not travelled to Kerala because of the suspension. Eugeneson and Raphael are both carrying injuries, and because of Raphael’s absence, we have brought in a new Jamaican player (Kevaughn Frater) to replace him, and he will be travelling with us to Kerala.”

Balancing Competitions

“We have a full squad and the players are fit, and we are training very well, so it’s not a problem. As a coach, you have to try to make good decisions but you cannot know exactly if some decisions are going to work or not. At the end, football is football, and anything can happen. The good thing about the players is that they all want to play and all want to help the team. I asked Brown whether he wants some rest, and he said no, same with Udanta and Chhetri as well.”

Plans For Fitness

“Yes, the players who are not playing AFC Cup or are suspended are doing a special fitness training. Also, of course I am trying to make substitutions at the right time to make sure. Ashique played the ninety minutes in the AFC Cup and then against Chennai, and he wasn’t even in the squad yesterday. Until now, it’s working, and let’s hope that it keeps working in the next weeks.” [KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

Raphael Augusto’s Injury

“Raphael is out of the Indian Super League. We then have the AFC Cup group stages, and for that we have to submit a fresh list. But for the Indian Super League, Raphael Augusto is one hundred percent out.”

New Signing Kevaughn Frater

“He’s a talented player who can play in any of the positions across the front-line, and he can help us out. It’s what I always told about the good thing in my team - a lot of players can handle different situations and it helps a lot. Semboi, if you saw against Paro, he was playing as a winger. Even as a winger he scored four goals and made one assist. It’s very important for the team to have that kind of versatile players who will work for the team. I have that with Brown, Nili, and now Frater."

About Visiting Kerala

“We know how good supporters they have. When we went there last season it was a very very nice show and they help the team all the time. I think it’s given them a little bit extra. Also, the fact that we are the champions of the league will be more motivating for them to finish the season with a nice game at home and getting a victory against us. I am expecting a good game, like it was against Chennai, where there was a lot of things going on in the stands - lots of passion.” "Kerala have had injuries this season so its not really good. Its a pity because we all want their best players on the pitch. But that's the thing even we have faced last season losing very important players in important times when Miku and Erik (Paartalu) were out injured. Even this season we have Raphael out with injury. But Bengaluru is working with that and getting the results nevertheless," Carles Cuadrat added.

On Opposition Coaches' Comments

"We have to be respectful. I hear sentences like 'Goa and Bengaluru are not playing so well.' Come on, Goa and Bengaluru have been in the playoffs year after year. You have to be respectful to them because it is difficult. It is not easy to be persistent in a competition. Not in the top level in Europe. Not in the top level in Asia," stated Carles Cuadrat. "I'm not talking about titles. But to reach the top four every year and compete for the title is very difficult and thus you have to respect these two clubs. So it makes no sense to say things like that." "I'm not attacking Eelco (Schattorie) or anyone and I don't want to create any controversy. Just that I have a lot of respect for everybody and I would like them to have the same respect for us," concluded Carles Cuadrat. [KH_ADWORDS type="2" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill

About The Experience Of Starting

“It felt good to play yesterday, it was my debut as well. The gaffer called the day before and told me that I’ll be starting and expressed the confidence he had in me as well. My teammates also gave me a lot of confidence, and it felt good to start a fixture.”

About The AFC Cup Performance

“Even the other team played well, but individually I think we were really good. We maintained our professionalism for the ninety minutes, because the game was done after three or four goals, but we kept pushing till the final whistle.”

About Sharing A Pitch With His Brother

“It was the first time we are playing together in a professional match. The moment I signed I knew that at some point I’d get to play with him. It felt really good to share a pitch.

Team News

Raphael Augusto has been ruled out of the ISL campaign, with his return expected only in time for the AFC Cup group stages later in the year. Rino Anto and Eugeneson Lyngdoh are both unavailable for selection for this fixture as well. Sunil Chhetri and Juanan will not travel to Kerala because of the suspension.

Head To Head

The Blues have consistently been the stronger side with regard to this fixture, having drawn just once in five meetings between the sides. While the men in yellow will be hoping to put an end to the trend, the Blues will take confidence from the smash and grab 1-0 win they picked up at the Kanteerava earlier in the campaign. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Predicted XI

Sandhu; Nishu, Serran, Bheke, Khabra; Dimas, Paartalu, Wangjam; Kuruniyan, Brown, Perdomo.

Broadcast

This game will be telecast live on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD. It is also available to stream on Hotstar and Jio TV, on any other digital viewing platforms.