Delhi Dynamos FC’s start to their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2018-19 campaign have been off to an uneven start with the Lions only having one point to show from a possible six. Josep Gombau’s side will be on the road for the first time this season when they take on a solid Kerala Blasters FC unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Saturday.

Although it’s still early days, Gombau will be hoping that their first win of the season arrives sooner rather than later. The Spaniard was present at the pre-match press conference ahead of the important clash to take questions from the media. When asked if Kerala enjoyed a slight advantage over them, as they enter the match after a two-week layoff, Gombau refused to read too much into it. “I don’t want to say anything regarding this. But yes, it is a fact that we are ahead compared to them. But otherwise, I don’t want to say anything regarding the fixture.”

The Lions have, in both of their matches, fallen victim to late goals. Asked whether it was a concerning issue for him, he admitted that they are working on rectifying it. “We are trying to solve these situations at the end part of the game. We are working on that.”

The Delhi head coach also went on to acknowledge that he may need more time to get his footballing ideas across to his players. “I think it is not a matter of fixtures. We have some foreign players and some new players. So, we need time to integrate them in the team.”

While Gombau did think that Kerala’s freshness will play a part in Saturday’s encounter, he was also wary of the opposition’s obvious quality. “Kerala have already won their first match and conceded a late goal in the other. It will make them dangerous. Kerala Blasters is a really good side. I know a few players. Few of them were under me earlier. So, I know they are a very good side.”

Read the match preview here.