Hyderabad FC head coach Thangboi Singto urged his players to make fewer mistakes individually and convert their chances after a 2-0 loss against Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad in the Indian Super League on Wednesday.
Manvir Singh scored for the Mariners in the 37th minute whereas Subhasish Bose scored in the 55th minute to double the visitors’ lead.
On the other hand, the Nawabs had 48% possession but they could only take a solitary shot on target with nine coming off target.
“We trained to neutralise the counter (attacking threat) of Mohun Bagan SG. We knew that with Manvir (Singh), (Jamie) Maclaren (would pose a threat) and on the bench, (Dimitrios) Petratos. They also had players like Sahal (Samad) and Liston (Colaco) coming in. So we knew that in counters they are really good. We tried to balance that out but it didn’t really help us. It was a mistake from us in the midfield (that led to the first goal). A misplaced pass, we gave the ball away and the counter happened,” Singto said in the post-match press conference.
“We had phases where we played really good football but playing good football is not enough. We have to make less mistakes individually and convert the chances. We didn’t create much today. I can understand but the few chances we had (we should have converted).. The shot from Lenny (Rodrigues), maybe (it could have been) 2-1, you never know. Mohun Bagan SG is a team we knew that it would be tough but we could have done better if we had not given the balls away. The free-kick from where they scored, it was a foul and most of the goals Mohun Bagan SG scored were from set pieces,” he further explained.
The gaffer wants his team to improve their defensive performance to get the desired results in the upcoming matches.
“Both the goals could have been avoided, I would say. Because of the through ball and the interchange from Maclaren and Manvir, we could have tracked them well. If you don’t track a player who is running free and facing your own goal then the chances (of conceding) are always high. The free-kick for example, we could have done better. So in these situations, I want my boys to be more aggressive going for the ball defensively,” he said.
Hyderabad FC will next take on Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi on 7th November.
