ISL 2017: Delhi coach Miguel Angel blames tight schedule after 4-1 loss to Bengaluru FC

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Delhi Dynamos coach Miguel Angel Portugal (Image courtesy of ISL)

After Bengaluru FC beat Delhi Dynamos 4-1 at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday night in the ISL, Delhi coach Miguel Angel Portugal laid the blame squarely on the tight schedule. The Dynamos had beaten FC Pune City 3-2 on Wednesday before they travelled to The Fortress to take on the new entrants.

"Congratulations to Bengaluru, they played very well," said coach Portugal. "But Bengaluru had seven days for recovery and my team had only four days."

Bengaluru's last match was a week ago and it was a point the Spanish coach reiterated thrice in the post-match press conference after Delhi were humbled by a far superior Bengaluru side.

The only consolation goal came via a penalty after John Johnson was found guilty of handling the ball in the area.

When asked whether the result would have been different had the Blues also had the same recovery period, Portugal said with a wry smile: "I hope in the next match Bengaluru have four days and I have seven days to prepare."

Portugal also lamented the fact that he had to train on artificial pitches, saying: "We had to train in an artificial ground and my team usually trains on a natural pitch."

'Bengaluru pressed well'

The Blues scored twice in the first half through set-pieces with Erik Paartalu scoring both with headers that beat goalkeeper Albino Gomes. Portugal said he tried to prepare for their set-pieces but it went in vain.

"We studied their set-pieces,: he explained. "You can analyse videos of their set-pieces but on the field it's completely different and we conceded two goals from set-pieces."

"Bengaluru pressed well. I prepared the team for this kind of press but it's not possible and Bengaluru played much better.

"I recognise their superiority," he admitted. "It was a good match and I have nothing more to say."

The Delhi Dynamos now have a week to prepare for their first home game of the season against NorthEast United on 2 December.

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