The match between Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on New Year’s Eve will be ‘a football feast’, according to Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri.
It will be the first time these two teams lock horns in the Indian Super League (ISL). In fact, Blasters are the only team in the ISL who have not lost a home game so far this season.
Speaking ahead of the eagerly-awaited match, the star striker said that his team is expecting a tough encounter against Blasters.
Excerpts from an interview:
Commenting on the rivalry between the fans of two teams, Blasters’ striker Iain Hume opined that such friendly banters are healthy for football. What is your take?
I also believe that such healthy rivalries between fan bases are good for football. But it needs to be in the spirit of the game and should not pose a threat to the security arrangements at the venue. Fans come to the stadium to cheer on their team, but they should be respectful to each other.
The Jawaharlal Nehru stadium at Kaloor will literally be a sea of yellow tomorrow. Will that put pressure on Bengaluru FC?
Any away game in the ISL is tough. It is not easy to play in front of a loud and partisan home crowd. A jam-packed stadium here could be intimidating for any team, but it won’t put any added pressure on us.
How do you rate Blasters?
They have been a bit slow to get off the block, but Blasters have good players in all the departments. They are tough competitors, especially when they are playing in home conditions. Blasters are high on confidence after earning a hard-fought draw with Chennaiyin FC in their last match. They will be coming out all guns blazing against us.
C K Vineeth and Rino Anto were your teammates at Bengaluru FC. They should be well aware of your side's strengths and weaknesses. What do you feel when they take to the field wearing the yellow jersey?
Not only Vineeth and Rino, but Sandesh Jinghan and Siam Hanghal were also former Blues. However, such things take the backstage when we are on the pitch. It is all about our performance in 90 minutes. I’m certain that this is going to be a hotly contested clash and a feast of high-quality soccer for the fans.
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