Clearly, Kerala Blasters is going through a major crisis. The Kochi side plays Marco Materazzi’s confident Chennaiyin FC in the seventh round at the Nehru Stadium here on Saturday in what appears to be a very difficult time.
But, Trevor Morgan, the home team’s ‘caretaker coach’ after the departure of head coach Peter Taylor, felt that his side is just a win away from solving most of its problems.
“I think we are just one win away from finding form. I don’t think there is a lack of self-belief because we have good players,” said Morgan here on Friday.
“You just need that win to set you off again, and we hope it comes on Saturday.”
The defence was Blasters’ forte last season while the forwards were slow in scoring goals, but now the backline appears to be the problem area, letting in late goals.
Morgan said the league is now harsher in handing out punishments.
“Last year, we were making mistakes but not getting punished. But this season, we are getting punished,” he said.
The home team, which used the 5-3-2 formation in almost all its games under Taylor this season despite a string of losses, will be working out a different system and keeping a close eye on Chennaiyin’s quick attackers — Colombian Stiven Mendoza and Brazilian Elano Blumer. But, Morgan preferred to keep his cards close to his chest. “We need to win on Saturday, so we are trying to put a system that gives us a lot of opportunities going forward and, at the same time, we need to make sure that we don’t concede goals,” said the 59-year-old.
The visiting side will be eager to make the most of Blasters’ problems, but Vivek Nagul, its assistant coach, said it would be a tough encounter.
“They are a good team and they have a strong home support, but we look at it as another game.
“It’s an away game and we expect a tough competition. But, we are ready,” he said.
Chennaiyin will be without midfielder Harmanjot Singh Khabra, who is on a four-match suspension, while Blasters’ marquee player Carlos Marchena, whose back problem seems to have resurfaced, is doubtful.