ISL 2024-25: Punjab FC looks to overcome defensive woes against struggling Kerala Blasters
ISL 2024-25: Punjab FC looks to overcome defensive woes against struggling Kerala Blasters
For Punjab FC, the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season is at the halfway stage. The results so far have been a mixed bag, with 12 games yielding six wins and losses each. Three of these defeats came in succession in December, a streak that it would look to shake off when it takes on Kerala Blasters at the JLN Stadium here on Sunday.
For that to happen, it will have to iron out shortcomings in the defence. Besides conceding nine goals in its last three matches, there were also red cards to Khaiminthang Lhungdim against East Bengal and Ezequiel Vidal against Mohun Bagan which didn’t help its cause.
“After losing three games, of course you can’t be happy or satisfied,” Punjab coach Panagiotis Dilmperis said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday. “But it is the same as when we had three wins in a row. It is a new game. It is a different challenge. We have to approach it this way.”
Compounding matters for Punjab are the overseas absentees. While Vidal and Luka Majcen are suspended, there are injuries to the Croatian duo of Ivan Novoselec and Filip Mrzljak.
Blasters, who lost their previous game to Jamshedpur, have their fair share of concerns too. Languishing at 10th, two spots below Punjab, the southern side has registered only four wins in 14 matches.
