Kiko Ramirez lauds KBFC's hard work, Ivan Vukomanovic trusts self-belief

The OFC boss also opened up on the search for Vinit Rai's placement.

A resurgent Odisha FC will have their task cut out against in-form Kerala Blasters when the two sides meet in Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Wednesday.

The match could be a high-scoring one as both Kerala and Odisha like to score goals. In the reverse fixture, Kerala edged past Odisha 2-1 and all three goals came from open play.

Odisha downed Mumbai City FC in their last outing to get back to winning ways after a spell of underwhelming performances. The Kiko Ramirez-coached side looked sharp in attack and also held firm when they needed to at the back in a high-scoring encounter. They now find themselves eighth in the points table, having 13 points from nine games.

[KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

In Kerala, Odisha will have an opponent who are brimming with confidence after making it to the top of the table for the first time in seven years. They beat Hyderabad FC in their last game to extend their winning run to nine games, finishing the first half of the season in the best way possible.

Ahead of the clash, both teams' head coaches - Kiko Ramirez and Ivan Vukomanovic - spoke to the media.

Odisha FC coach Kiko Ramirez

The threat posed by KBFC

Kiko Ramirez: We know that Kerala Blasters are in good shape. They are winning matches which uplifts the mood of the players. They work hard on the pitch. Moreover, they have really good forwards who are a threat to any team.

Take on Ivan Vukomanovic

Kiko Ramirez: He is doing a good job. They are leading the table. His players are moving well. We can just congratulate him. But, we need to know how the competition ends. We are in the middle of the competition and the champion will be crowned at the end.

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

Thoughts on intense title race

Kiko Ramirez: Every team is equal. Anyone can beat anyone. We saw with Mumbai City FC, they were top of the table and now they are going through a bad run. Like the coach of KBFC said, now it is an important phase of the league, so we want to win. The KBFC coach said it’s like a final for them, it’s the same for us.

Thoughts on postponed ATKMB game

Kiko Ramirez: We had planned for the match and were ready to face them. The important thing in this situation is that we respect the rules. Let’s see how it affects the rest of the season. But, we need to try to be safe. Everyone knows the first thing is the safety of the players and everyone involved in the league.

Vinit Rai's replacement

Kiko Ramirez: We are keeping an eye on the market. We are looking at two sides. One bringing a player who can join immediately and matches our profile. And we are also trying to scout young players who can improve the squad in the coming years.

Kerala Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanovic

On nine-game unbeaten run

Ivan Vukomanovic: Since we started, we always believed we had the quality to beat anybody. Not only our team but all other clubs in this league. Many times the favourites cannot win in the so-called ‘easy games’ and we saw anybody win on a given day. We still had the strength to get back in the game after the first loss against ATK Mohun Bagan. We always believed we can create momentum with good players and personalities.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News |ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Plans against Odisha FC

Ivan Vukomanovic: Now that every club has faced everybody, there is a possibility to watch the other teams and there are no longer any surprises. It is about commitment to the game, team and good organization. We have to use the quality and the strong points that we have, while also using opponents' weak points. We have faced Odisha FC in the pre-season as well. In those different moments you have to be ready to respond. I don’t expect anything special tomorrow, as I know what can happen. It will be an interesting game and may the better team win.

Injuries & COVID-19 outbreak in ISL

Ivan Vukomanovic: We were prepared to play every three days. The break between the two seasons is very long. When you enter into fights, there will be casualties. We have enough players in the squad to deal with the injuries. Are we concerned? Yes and no. Players getting long-term injuries is not pleasant. In ISL because it is a very short competition, if you get a major injury it means you are out of the whole season. When you move to the experienced or career level, it would mean that you end up playing three matches in three years. It is not good for football itself.

We are most concerned now about the COVID-19 situation. In my opinion, the moment it will burst out in different camps, there are more cases in different camps. We are getting tested every 12 hours. In the chain process, we are getting involved, but hopefully there are no more cases. We have to deal with it.

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