AFC Cup 2018: “We didn’t underestimate New Radiant…,” says Bengaluru FC’s Edu Gasol after defeat
What’s the story?
While addressing the media during the post-match conference, substitute BFC coach Eduard Gasol revealed what went wrong for his team during the fixture between Bengaluru FC and New Radiant SC. Having lost out to NRSC in the AFC Cup fixture today, Sunil Chhetri and Co. have landed themselves in a bit of trouble as far as the group standings are concerned.
In case you didn’t know…
Thanks to a goal each from Ali Fasir and Ali Ashfaq, New Radiant successfully consigned Bengaluru FC to their first ever conquest in the 2018 AFC Cup campaign. New Radiant SC out-glowed the Blues with a clean sheet, as the scoreboard read a score of 2-0 at the National Stadium in Male, on April 25, 2018.
Goalkeeping coach, Edu Gasol took charge of Bengaluru FC courtesy head coach, Albert Roca’s suspension after a tiff with the match officials during the last time the two clubs locked horns a couple of weeks ago. Roca was sent off to the stands by the referee, following his protest against a penalty not being awarded to his captain, Sunil Chhetri in the closing minutes of that fixture.
Heart of the matter
Bengaluru seemed worn-out as opposed to the team that succeeded in the Super Cup in Odisha only last week. The Southern Eagles were trailing a one-goal lead at the half-hour mark, even after Udanta and Sunil had multiple chances to level the scores but failed in doing so. The second goal from NRSC came just after the second half kicked off, and BFC just couldn’t keep up with the display of intensity from the Maldivian side.
Talking about the defeat after the game, Coach Gasol said, “New Radiant played this game with a lot of intensity and that's how they've got the win. We have to learn from this because we have to work hard to qualify now.”
“We didn't underestimate them. New Radiant stepped up at crucial points in the game and that's how they got the win,” the Spaniard continued.
“All we can do is go on and give 100 percent in our remaining games. We have to be focused and look forward to putting on better performances,” he added.
What’s next?
Though Bengaluru FC will certainly be unhappy with today’s end result, they will be determined to get back on winning ways as they are up against fellow Indian side, Aizawl FC on May 2, 2018, in the next fixture of the group stages of their AFC Cup journey.
Author’s take
It is always good for a coach to accept the mistakes his team made during the match, and Edu Gasol’s approach to Bengaluru FC’s loss seems to be positive and assures the fans that their team will be back determined to do better and get back to winning ways in no time at all.