I’ve been following ISL for many years: Kerala Blasters FC's David Catala
Catala emphasised his prior knowledge of the league, shared his first impressions of the squad, and touched on several other key aspects during his early days with Kerala Blasters FC.
David Catala made a strong statement in his first game as head coach of Kerala Blasters FC, guiding the team to a commanding 2-0 win over defending champions East Bengal FC. The result not only lifted team morale but also booked the Blasters a spot in the quarter-finals of the Kalinga Super Cup, where they are set to face Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
It was a dream start for the Spaniard, who became the club’s third head coach of the season. Before Catala's arrival, Swedish tactician Mikael Stahre led the side, followed by interim coach T. G. Purushothaman.
Catala now faces the challenge of revitalising the team’s performance, and he is expected to bring fresh strategies and renewed energy to the squad, steering them towards greater success in the Kalinga Super Cup, a task that both the club and its fans hope he will achieve given his promising start.
When asked about his initial thoughts on Indian football before joining Kerala Blasters FC, Catala shared his observations and understanding of the growing football culture in the country.
"I’ve been following the league for many years because I have friends who have played or coached here, and I’m in touch with them. I wanted to get their opinion. It’s important to have the support of other colleagues, especially if they are of the same nationality,” the Spanish coach said during the interview with the Sportstar.
Momentum gained, focus redirected, MBSG next ⏭️
— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) April 23, 2025
Watch the #KalingaSuperCup 2025 live only on @jiohotstar & #StarSports3 (From QFs onwards) #KBFC #KeralaBlasters #YennumYellow pic.twitter.com/OuwYgipO3h
The coach shared his first impressions of the team, highlighting the evident experience and talent within the squad. While acknowledging their disappointment with the current season, he stressed that the Kalinga Super Cup offers a fresh opportunity to prove their worth and salvage something meaningful from the campaign.
He said, "There is no doubt that we have a lot of good players with experience in the league. They were obviously disappointed after the season. So I spoke to them to see how they are feeling and to let them know that the Kalinga Super Cup is a new opportunity for them to show how important they are for us."
Renowned for his possession-based philosophy, Catala faces the challenge of embedding his style with limited time at his disposal.
When asked whether he's looking to implement his own tactical approach or let the players stick to the system they've been using this season, he suggested that a measured approach—blending both ideas—might be the most practical path forward.
Catala replied, "I have tried to introduce a little bit about what I want to try and change. It’s not easy to do it in 20 days because they have been working together for about 10 months. But I’m happy so far that the players are reacting very well."
Finally, with his initial experience of Indian football at KBFC now behind him, the coach offered his evaluation, comparing it to the footballing landscapes he had previously encountered throughout his career.
"Whatever I have seen so far, the rhythm is not so high. But it’s another league and it’s very competitive. There are very good foreign players, and the Indian players are also growing. It’s a nice challenge for me to grow and develop myself. I hope that we can do a good job here,” the coach said as he concluded.
