Published By: Ritayan Basu
Last Updated: November 29, 2023, 10:42 IST
ISL 2023-24: Kerala Blasters’ Ivan Vukomanovic and Chennaiyin FC’s Owen Coyle (FSDL)
Kerala Blasters host Chennaiyin FC on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium within the Indian Super League.
Amidst a topsy-turvy battle for the highest spot, Kerala Blasters FC will look to reclaim the primary place within the factors desk of their conflict in opposition to Chennaiyin FC on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Wednesday.
FC Goa changed the Tuskers in that coveted place with a 1-0 victory in opposition to Jamshedpur FC to spherical off the seventh Matchweek of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24. However, Ivan Vukomanovic and his males have been flawless and stroll round with an air of inevitability up to now this season.
They have received 4 out of their 5 residence video games and the match on Wednesday will once more see them turning up in entrance of some breath-taking crowd help, and whether or not they capitalise on that to take advantage of the house benefit stays to be seen.
What’s at stake?
Kerala Blasters FC
Plenty of Kochi video games at the beginning of the season give the Kerala Blasters a head-begin to accumulate as many factors as potential within the opening half of the marketing campaign. They needs to be wanting to construct a distance on this part with different groups within the league earlier than a number of difficult encounters on the highway come their means.
Chennaiyin FC
It has been a season of there and thereabouts for Chennaiyin FC. Barring a couple of video games, they’ve typically been shut to the ending line however have often fallen wanting the identical. An on the spot enhance of confidence is important to encourage some self-perception inside the squad, and few issues come shut to upsetting Kerala Blasters in their very own yard.
There’s a caveat although – with 11 wins and a attract 15 residence video games, Vukomanovic as a rule will get his group proper in Kochi.
Key Players
Milos Drincic (Kerala Blasters FC)
The 24-12 months-previous defender has made 2.25 tackles, three clearances, and tried 42 passes on a median in his 4 appearances within the league. He additionally netted the winner in opposition to Hyderabad FC. The likes of Drincic, Rei Tachikawa (Jamshedpur FC), Cy Goddard (Odisha FC), are trendsetters when it comes to international internationals at the beginning of their careers selecting to ply their commerce within the ISL. For a participant like Drinčić to succeed will not be solely important for Kerala Blasters, but additionally for all the league to turn into a horny vacation spot for younger gamers throughout the globe.
Ninthoinganba Meetei (Chennaiyin FC)
The 22-12 months-previous scored the equaliser for Chennaiyin FC in opposition to East Bengal FC, and the sudden sharpness that he confirmed while scoring the aim made individuals pause and take discover of his large expertise. The former Indian Arrows product is taking part in his fifth ISL season, having turned up in 54 video games, however has averaged merely 45.72 minutes on the sphere per match.
His outputs haven’t been up to the mark earlier than this marketing campaign, having netted solely as soon as prior to the match in opposition to Carles Cuadrat’s aspect. However, that strike will need to have instilled nice self-perception within the participant and one can anticipate him to play an important position in Owen Coyle’s plans in opposition to Kerala Blasters.
Head-to-Head
Played – 20
Kerala Blasters FC – 6
Chennaiyin FC – 6
Draws – 8
Trivia: Vincy Barreto, former Kerala Blasters FC now with Chennaiyin FC, scored for the Marina Machans in opposition to his former group of their league fixture final season.
Team Talk
“Our games against Chennaiyin FC have always been tough. I expect a very tough, physical game with many duels tomorrow. It is the type of game that has always happened between these two teams. Where we or our opponent stand at the table at the moment doesn’t matter right now. Every game is tough at home, especially because the other team always wants to show something extra,” Kerala Blasters FC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic mentioned within the pre-match press convention.
“It’s going to be a great game. If I took myself back to being a player, this is the kind of game that you want to play. Kerala have been doing fantastic, all credit to them, they have a very good coach. Because they have had consistency with the same coach, building an infrastructure within the club, they have a clever sporting director, and they have set a fantastic plan for the team. We know the backing they have and that obviously makes this game special,” Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle heaped reward on the opponents earlier than the match.
