Kerala Blasters will aim to conclude their campaign on a positive note when they take on FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi on Monday. Historically, the Blasters have struggled against Goa, making this a challenging final fixture.
Coach Westwood Calls for Full Effort
“They are a top-ranked side and have some very good Indian national players and experienced foreign players. We have to go out and give our best and try to win the match,” said Blasters’ head coach Ashley Westwood during the pre-match media interaction.
Westwood urged his players to maintain the progress they have shown and avoid ending the campaign with disappointment. “Nothing's guaranteed in football. You have to work hard first and foremost. You have to match physicality and physical outputs. But at the end of the day, let's not finish the season on a down. We've been on an upward trajectory since the day I got here and just keep the momentum going, give it your all and let's not sit in two or three days' time where we're regretting things that we didn't give our everything to get the result. If we don't get it, that's fine as long as we give it our best,” said Westwood.
Goa Under Pressure
Goa head into the match under pressure after dropping points at home against Mohun Bagan, a result that hurt their hopes of securing a top-three finish. Currently placed sixth, the Goan side will be determined to improve its standing and is expected to pose a serious challenge to the hosts. Against the Blasters, they need to be more focused on their clinical finishing and defensive setup.
“Some changes will be there among the starters but that’s not important,” said Goa head coach Manolo Marquez. “We need to be competitive (regardless of the changes). We face a team that is most motivated in the competition, even more than the teams who are fighting for the title. They have changed some foreign players and they are now better.”
“They are playing with confidence. The crowd is also there and now more supporters will be at the stadium. It will be a nice farewell game of the season,” Marquez added.
Blasters’ Bright Spark
The Blasters will take confidence from their previous outing, where Kevin Yoke played a decisive role and impressed on the right flank. His performance offered a bright spark, but against a stronger and more organized Goa side, the Blasters will need a complete team effort if they hope to finish the season with a win.
