Kochi: After failing to taste much success with former Manchester United assistant René Meulensteen at the helm, two-time Indian Super League finalists (ISL) Kerala Blasters will aim for a new start when they take on an upbeat FC Pune City at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday.
The Dutchman, brought to India will huge expectations of guiding the Blasters to their first ISL title could not even survive half the season and was send packing off, after a mutual agreement between him and the club officials. While former Liverpool goalkeeper David James has been appointed as Meulensteen’s replacement, the Englishman’s presence in the dugout in all the important match is still uncertain.
This will be the custodian’s second stint in India, having led the Blasters to their maiden final appearance in the inaugural season of the league as a marquee player-cum-coach.
With just seven points from the same number of matches, Kerala are lingering at the bottom half of the table but assistant coach Thangboi Singto who addressed the media on the eve of the match remained hopeful of bouncing back.
“When the season started, every team wants to do really well. It is the same with us. The results are there for all to see. The preparation, intention and the plan have always been to do well on the field. In terms of our planning, we have to do what we have been doing. But what is most important is to score and not concede,” said the former Shillong Lajong head.
But to score and not concede is easier said than done that too against a team that has already amassed 17 goals this season and come to the match on the back of a 5-0 drubbing of NorthEast United. Kerala’s defence on the other hand was exposed more often than not as Bengaluru thrashed them 3-1 at home.
Pune assistant Vladica Grujic however remained cautious asking his boys to not get complement with the sweet run they are in at the moment.
“Every game is difficult. Maybe they are not in a good shape at the moment. We will have to concentrate on our game and not take anything lightly,” he said at the pre-match conference.
With both the teams on contrasting forms, Pune will be raring to continue it’s unbeaten away run that saw then decimate the likes of ATK and FC Goa among others. Kerala on the other hand will hope for a new beginning under David James and hope with a new person at the helm tides can change once again and this time on their side.