Carles Cuadrat content with defenders' performance despite late goals

The Blues coach Carles Cuadrat pinned the 94 minute goal from Sergio to team’s ill-luck but was content with the performance of the defenders.

Carles decided not to read too much into the missed opportunity from Sunil Chhetri which could have cemented a win for the team. (FILE PHOTO)

Bengaluru FC was the better side for most part of the game, but conceded late goals to split points with Jamshedpur FC at Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday.

The Blues coach Carles Cuadrat pinned the 94 minute goal from Sergio to team’s ill-luck but was content with the performance of the defenders despite the late goals.

“It happens. The last goal came because of the bounce in the box which got the ball back into play. It was accidental and we were trying to avoid it, but the ball arrived to the left side and they got the ball in from behind. Only two times were they inside the goal area and they scored. Our team did a good job, specially our defenders,” he said.

Carles decided not to read too much into the missed opportunity from Sunil Chhetri which could have cemented a win for the team. “It was a period of fantastic action. Chhetri got a good assist from Miku and he was quite close to the goal. When you have so much time to decide where to put the ball, you sometimes miss it. It happens. Unfortunately, his shot hit the post.

READ: Late strike sees Jamshedpur and Bengaluru share the spoils

“That's why we say football is a wonderful game because there are a lot of things that you try to control and then something else happens.  It adds a lot of emotion to the experience of watching the game, a lot of things keep happening,” he said.

Talking about the team’s plan to combat the Spaniards in the opposition team, Cuadrat said: “We told the players it is important to score before the opposition. We tried to go for the second goal, but it didn’t materialise. By experience, we knew that anything can happen in the last few minutes. We are trying to work on that."

On the approach for the next few games, he said: ‘We always try to be offensive. Juanan and Albert (Serran) were good. I want my full backs to arrive and have the attacking option. 

Jamshedpur’s coach Cesar Ferrando expressed relief at salvaging a draw, but maintained the team had work to do.

“It was a big challenge to play against Bengaluru. We wanted to play together, as a team. We tried to control the game so that we can take more risk, but we left more spaces open behind our back line. I think this score is good for us. We defended the set pieces very well but there were slips. We can’t concede a second goal."

Gourav Mukhi, who scored Jamshedpur’s first equaliser of the match, came in for much praise from the JFC coach. “Guarav played with us for the first time and we are very happy with his performance. I look forward to seeing him more as a striker and scoring goals,” he said.