MARGAO (Goa): Bengaluru FC will host Jamshedpur FC in what would be the final game of the calendar year for both sides at the Fatorda Stadium on Monday.
The Blues currently are third on the table, two points above sixth-placed Jamshedpur, but Bengaluru head coach Carles Cuadrat acknowledged that the Owen Coyle-led side have been playing well and deserve to be higher up on the standings.
“Jamshedpur FC are doing really good work. They deserve to have more points on the table. They’ve been unlucky with some refereeing decisions. We’ll be up against a team that is hurting and hungry,” said Cuadrat.
Jamshedpur made important additions to their squad in the summer and roped in Englishman Coyle, who led an unfancied Chennaiyin FC side to the final last term.
Cuadrat admitted that he is aware of the challenge he’s up against on Monday.
“Jamshedpur will be a tough opponent to face. We’ve to control Jamshedpur. Their foreigners are getting better with every passing week, and their young Indian players are also doing well. We’ll try to keep our good performances going. In the last 11 games, we’ve only lost twice. We’ll try to get the three points.”
Last season’s golden boot-winner Nerijus Valskis now leads the line for Jamshedpur. Cuadrat said he is confident in his backline’s ability to tackle the challenge posed by the Lithuanian striker.
“We have been able to stop brilliant strikers before. (Ferran) Corominas and (Bartholomew) Ogbeche only scored from penalties against us. We do take risks with our high defensive line but it is all part of our plan.”
Cuadrat has been forced to reshuffle his backline following the injury to Ashique Kuruniyan and the Spaniard stressed on the need for his players to adjust when they come into the team.
“We had the best defence last season, conceding the least goals and keeping the most clean sheets. There have been changes at the back this season and it takes time for the players to understand the patterns. We are also missing Ashique now, which means we have to restructure.”
Speaking about the injured left-back, Cuadrat provided an update.
“Ashique finished his surgery in Bengaluru and travelled to Kerala, where he will now recover and spend time with his family. It is difficult to confirm how many weeks it will take for his recovery. We had a phone conversation after his surgery and he is in a positive mood.”
