Panagiotis Dilmperis sheds light on loss against Kerala Blasters FC, says they had to pay for one mistake

Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis opened up on a 0-1 loss against Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi in the ongoing Indian Super League on Sunday. The Shers manager shared his disappointment that his team had to pay the price for one mistake they made just before the half-time, which was conceding the penalty.

The Yellow Tuskers’ forward Noah Sadaoui converted from the spot kick to put his team in front, handing Punjab FC their fourth straight loss. 

Meanwhile, Punjab FC had 48.7% possession but took two shots on target. The home team could not capitalize after Kerala Blasters FC was reduced to nine men in the second half. 

Dilmperis said he felt sad for the young players who gave their all but could not get a positive result.

Reflecting on the match during the post-match press conference, Dilmperis said: “We started something really good here at the beginning and it’s been a month but nothing has been good. We don’t have the momentum. Any mistake we do, we have to pay. I’m not disappointed because of the performance. The players, we have a certain strategy. We were thinking that with all these players that we are missing, we should stay back on the two thirds, block Noah, (Adrian) Luna and (Kwame) Peprah. Kerala Blasters FC is a team that this way or another, makes a lot of chances during these games.”

He continued: “We did one mistake and it was a penalty. It’s been a month and the fourth game in a row, we have paid for a mistake we did. It will turn. The point is that since we are using all these young players, we must feed them with successful results. That is going to make them have the culture of winning, that’s going to give them confidence and that’s going to build players for the future. No future really soon. You seen Givson (Singh).. you saw (Muhammed) Suhail today and the young goalkeeper (Muheet Shabir) as well. This is my disappointment (them not getting the win for their performance). I’m sad for these kids. I want them to have success, they need and it’s necessary for (better) quality of Indian football and Punjab FC as well.”

The gaffer admitted they were not up to the mark in offense in the second half as the players didn’t have the right accuracy.

“The quality, of course, we didn’t have in the final third during the second half because our services had no accuracy. We didn’t even have an official time of nine and we didn’t risk it. Filip (Mrzljak), he shouldn’t play (due to his fitness). But since the game was like this, we were thinking the experience (would help). I will remind you that we had just six or seven shots on goal and only one from Kipgen went to the goalkeeper’s hands. Its part of quality, its part of when we are stressed out because of our age, we cannot control it. That’s why I go back to my statement and say it will be great to take results for the mentality of these players,” the Punjab FC head coach said.

Punjab FC will next take on NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on Friday.