Stuart Baxter indicates Mauricio & Onwu can play together after some time

The Odisha FC boss also provided an update on Marcelinho's injury.

Odisha FC lost their second game of the ongoing Indian Super League season after ATK Mohun Bagan scored an injury-time winner to secure all three points. Roy Krishna leaped the highest to divert the ball into the net for the vital goal, which was the difference between the two sides on the night. Following the defeat, Odisha boss Stuart Baxter interacted in the post-match press conference, giving his insights on the game.

While on paper, ATK Mohun Bagan looked like a stronger side, the gameplay was tightly-contested by both teams. The Juggernauts' head coach Stuart Baxter expressed his disappointment by criticizing his team’s decision-making saying, “Some of the decision-making we had with the ball was horrendous.” 

“We started making decisions on the field that made it difficult when we lost the ball to defend the spaces around our defenders. So that was giving up too many set-plays, transitions,” he added.

https://youtu.be/guDXNavBEwg

“You are not unlucky when you make some of the decisions that we made. Football’s got that nasty habit of when you give up transitions and set-plays in the last few minutes of the game, you can get beaten by any team and we did. We have to learn,” he continued.

Diego Mauricio, who has been Odisha FC's highest scorer with two goals till now, started the game against ATK Mohun Bagan. However, he was replaced by Manuel Onwu in the second half, who could not find the back of the net as well. Speaking about whether the two stars can play together, Stuart Baxter quipped, “I have had about 16 sessions with the whole squad, so at one point you have got to decide (sic.) how you’re going to play. I am sure they can play together, but it will need a little bit more time, to gel with them, to work with them.”

The British tactician also explained the gameplan against the Kolkata giants on Thursday night, answering whether it was their strategy to sit back and defend against the Mariners who use counter-attacks.

[KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

“What we wanted was that we would cut off the channels into the players that they want to find. We would not be tempted, unless we were together, to go press high.”

“But, we wanted to counter press as well, so when we lost the ball in their half of the field, we wanted to counter press. I thought we got that really, really well and what counter-attacks they had, we managed to space in and around our defenders very, very well. But, it got more and more difficult as we started turning the ball over in very, very dicey situations. So it stretched us out even more and that’s our fault,” the 67-year-old admitted.

Another overseas player, Marcelinho was subbed off in the second half and had an ice pack on his shoulder, possibly trying to heal from an injury. “Marcelinho got that early tumble where he twisted his shoulder, it was sore. But, also his fitness is not enough (for) 90 minutes at the moment. So, he was both tired and in pain, with another game against Mumbai coming up very quickly, we decided it was better for him to come off,” Stuart Baxter revealed.

ALSO READ: Antonio Habas: Manvir Singh is a good player with big potential

Cole Alexander, one of the new recruits, impressed against the Mariners in the defeat. Speaking on whether the South African was a priority signing because of the previous connection the two had during their stints with the South African national team, he said, “Yes, Cole is not the sexy player that does a lot of tricks, but he’s the one that already his teammates love him. He does some of the things that they can’t do. He gets to the ball quicker and he can play on the ball as well. Cole was a priority signing and I think the deal was a very good one for the club.”

ALSO READ: Highlights: Roy Krishna scores in injury-time to help ATKMB edge Odisha FC

Stuart Baxter concluded his post-match press conference by commenting on the psychological repercussions of this defeat. “I am guessing that the depression that’s in the dressing room at the moment will not be lifted by just a few hours and a nice meal in the evening, it’ll take longer than that. But, that’s what football is. I use the word ‘responsibility’, that’s the ability to respond and that’s what we have got to show now,” he signed off.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Twitter and join our community on Telegram.