Indian Super League (ISL) club Kerala Blasters’s skipper Adrian Luna revealed that there has been a change in the coaching tactics of the side under their new coach, Mikael Stahre and that the players need to adapt to it sooner rather than later. Luna revealed in an interaction with India Today that all players of Kerala Blasters need to take up responsibility in ensuring well-formed team chemistry, by knowing when to switch tactics from the usual pressing style.
Luna-led Kerala Blasters have ensured a strong start to their 2024-2025 footballing season after winning two out of their three Durand Cup 2024 fixtures by massive margins, along with a single 1-1 draw against Punjab FC. The Blasters started off their Durand Cup campaign with a 7-0 win against CISF Protectors, and went on to defeat Mumbai City FC with 8-0 and sealed their quarter-final spot. However, Luna believes that the side still has a lot of room to improve in this season, and that his focus lies on that.
“I think what I expect is to see the idea of the coach on the pitch… Some principles. You can see already that we want to press high, and we want to recover the ball high on the pitch. But of course you have to manage this very well and you cannot press 90 minutes. So I think as a team we need to recognise when to drop and when we have to keep the ball… So far, I like this team, but sometimes we don’t recognise these moments. It is difficult to attack and attack, we cannot play like that for 90 minutes,” Luna said.
Personally, Luna will be looking to make the most out of this season after missing out on the majority of the season due to a knee-injury.
“Firstly, it is to be able to play all season. Last season I injured my knee. I want to to be fit and play as many games as possible. Secondly, I have said many times, the goal for me and my team is to win a trophy. We want to play good football, enjoying together and have fun on the pitch. That is our goal,” Luna added.
Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
