Bengaluru FC succumbed to a 3 – 2 defeat at the hands of Chennaiyin FC in the final of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. Mailson Alves scored two goals from two corners and Raphael Augusto scored the visitors’ third. Bengaluru scored through Sunil Chhetri and Miku as the Blues dominated the league phase before falling at the last hurdle in front of their home fans.

Speaking to the media at the post-match press conference was their head coach Albert Roca and he took blame after his team conceded two goals from corners. “To concede from set-pieces is always disappointing,” he stated. “I don’t blame the defence for this. It is my responsibility to change the system. But, I accept I made a mistake in the formation. Sometimes in football it is not the players who make the mistakes, but the coaches. And perhaps this time I made a mistake.”

The Spaniard lauded Alves and maintained that his experience was a key factor in games such as these. “I don’t think we felt pressure, but Mailson scoring from two corners made a big difference,” Roca explained. “In a few minutes, the game changed. In football, you need players with his kind of experience to rise to the situation.”

The 55-year-old also heaped praise on Bengaluru captain Chhetri for his efforts in trying to help his team get back into the game. “Sunil is an outstanding player and I am proud of him,” Roca remarked. “Not just because he scored an important goal in the final. He fought till the end, and put in a lot of effort in the second half. He is a fantastic player, and he will have his moment in another season.”