Blasters hope to return to winning ways vs NEUFC

Kochi: After an eight-game unbeaten run, Kerala Blasters suffered huge defeats in their last two games and are eager to return to winning ways before their supporters when they take on struggling North East United FC at Kochi on Sunday. Though the Blasters were highly inconsistent in their away matches this season, they have been in tremendous form at home.Ivan Vukomanovic will be counting on the home advantage against NEUFC. So far this season, the Blasters have won five out of seven home games at home.
"It’s another game. Every game for us is crucial. There are always teams who want to play their best game against Kerala Blasters, especially when we play in Kochi,” said Vukomanovic.
On the other hand, NEUFC have not won an away match in ISL in their last 18 outings. But for NEUFC, Kerala is just like another home. As many as seven Keralites are part of the NEUFC team squad this season with almost all of them featuring in the starting XI. Out of the remaining players, a major chunk has played professional football either in Blasters or Gokulam Kerala FC, the I-league club from Kerala. Apart from this, their head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese has spent two seasons with Gokulam Kerala and has won the I-league title on both occasions.
But it will be an uphill task for NEUFC to beat the Blasters, especially without their top scorer Wilmar Gil. The Colombian striker was sent off during last week’s 4-0 defeat against Mumbai City FC.
"The mood is always positive for a new game because we have enough time to rest and prepare for it. We know the way that they play. We will change something for sure because whenever we play a big team like Kerala, it is hard,” said Annese.