Jeakson’s goal in the second half was highly deserving, feels Kibu Vicuna

The Kerala Blasters boss also revealed that tactical reasons forced him to turn back to the one-striker system.

Kerala Blasters continued their winless streak in the Indian Super League once again as they held SC East Bengal to a draw on Sunday night. Following the 1-1 stalemate, head coach Kibu Vicuna addressed in the post-match press conference, speaking about the equalizer and key tactics involved.

Thoughts On Equaliser

Bakary Kone scored an own goal in the first half, which resulted in SC East Bengal taking the lead over the southerners. The Burkinabe defender was looking to block a pass made by Mohammed Rafique to Anthony Pilkington, however, the momentum of the ball caused it to deflect inside the bars.

Jeakson Singh scored the equalizer in the second half to help his side to clinch one point in the game. Speaking about the equalizer, Kibu Vicuna quipped, “I think Jeakson’s goal in the second half was highly deserving. I am proud of the players for showing such a fighting spirit and a great attitude on the pitch till the end.”

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“We wanted the three points and the win today. But we could not get it unfortunately. If we continue to improve in terms of our performance and create more chances, I think we will be able to achieve those targets in the next game (against Hyderabad FC),” he added.

Returning To 4-2-3-1

Kerala Blasters played with both Jordan Murray and Gary Hooper in the starting XI against Bengaluru FC, as Kibu Vicuna opted for a 4-4-2 system. However, the team did well in attack which led many to believe the Spaniard will stick to the two-striker system against SC East Bengal as well. Meanwhile, the tactician brought 4-2-3-1 formation back against the Kolkata giants, with Gary Hooper playing as the only striker.  

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“We switched back to a one-striker system due to tactical reasons. Our aim was to hold onto the ball more than the opponent and to create more chances in the final third. In the end, we succeeded in doing both. We had multiple possibilities and I think playing one striker upfront was the most suitable way to face East Bengal,” he explained.

On Gary Hooper’s Performance

Gary Hooper was tipped to be one of the best signings in the Indian Super League when he signed for Kerala Blasters in the summer. However, the 32-year-old Englishman has failed to live up to the expectations in this season. However, Kibu Vicuna once again backed his first-choice forward as he opined, “Gary Hooper is a good player. He is a very important player for us.”

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“He had some muscular problems at the end of the first half. That is the reason why I replaced him with Jordan Murray in the second half,” the Spaniard signed off.

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