Sat Dec 07 17:09:58 UTC 2024: ## Kerala Blasters Aim for Victory in High-Stakes Southern Derby Against Bengaluru FC
**Kochi, [Date of Publication]** – Kerala Blasters head coach, Ivan Vukomanović, expressed confidence ahead of their crucial Southern Derby clash against Bengaluru FC on December 7th at the Sri Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Despite a recent string of losses, including a 1-3 defeat to FC Goa at home, Vukomanović maintains that his team is playing well and deserves better results.
The coach highlighted the team’s strong performance in their previous encounter against Bengaluru FC in Kochi, stating they deserved to win despite the 1-3 scoreline. He acknowledged that while the results have been disappointing, the team’s technical performance is on the right track, focusing on minimizing individual errors and improving team cohesion, especially in defense. He emphasized the need for collective defending and minimizing simple mistakes.
Goalkeeper Sachin Suresh’s recent errors have come under scrutiny, with three errors leading to goals this season – the highest in the league. However, Vukomanović defended his goalkeeper, praising his performance in other matches and attributing the errors to his slow recovery from injury.
Bengaluru FC also enter the match on the back of a loss, making it a high-stakes encounter for both sides. Both teams have struggled for consistency recently, with only one win each in their last five matches. The rivalry adds extra spice to an already important fixture.
Speaking alongside Moroccan winger Noh Saoudi, who has been a standout performer for Kerala this season with four goals and three assists, the coach and player expressed confidence in the team’s abilities. Saoudi acknowledged individual errors as a significant concern, stating the team is working to rectify these and improve team performance. Both emphasized the team’s belief in their potential and their determination to overcome recent setbacks.
Vukomanović confirmed that Kerala Blasters will have a clear game plan for the Bengaluru match, adapted from their previous encounters. He reiterated the team’s focus on securing a victory in this important derby clash. The match kicks off at 7:30 PM on December 7th.
First Piper 