Kerala Blasters neglected 'planning', 'overall strategy': Former head coach Stahre

Mikael Stahre, former Head Coach of Kerala Blasters, has given impetus to the unrelenting fan protests against the club management in wake of a slump in form that has got them closer to the bottom of the ISL points table.

In a social media post, Stahre said that while "football is obviously universal, and its specifics are quite similar everywhere," the club neglected the "aspects of planning and overall strategy."

It is the first time that the Swede has criticised the Blasters management since his sacking on December 16, after the club lost 7 of its 12 matches in the Indian Super League.

Stahre's attack on the Hyderabad-based management echoes the criticism raised by Manjappada, the club's biggest fan group. "This was an interesting, exciting, and enjoyable experience, but it was also draining," Stahre noted under a team picture during his time in Kochi.

Despite unfavourable results, the Swede had warmed up to the Blasters' enviable fanbase with his attacking style. The Manjappada had labelled Stahre's sacking as an act of 'cowardice'. The fan group accused the club management of making Stahre the scapegoat for its decisions.

The Manjappada has staged protests both inside and outside the club's home ground, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Kaloor in Kochi. It has been calling for "substantial improvements in the Indian squad", "a strong January transfer window", "signing of quality players and leaders in key positions" and "results that show that the management is listening to the fans".

Assistant Coach T G Purushothaman is the interim head coach of the Blasters now. They are 10th in the points table of 13 teams, with 14 points from 14 matches. They play Punjab FC in New Delhi on Sunday (January 5). The Blasters are yet to win a trophy since their inception in 2014. The club has reached the ISL final thrice, the most recent at the end of the 2021-22 season.