Delhi Dynamos FC suffered their ninth defeat of the season when they went down 2 – 1 at the hands of Kerala Blasters FC in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Saturday. Kalu Uche’s first-half opener from the spot was bettered by Deependra Negi’s goal and Iain Hume’s penalty in the second. The Lions are virtually out of contention for the play-offs and speaking to the media during the post-match press conference was their head coach Miguel Portugal, who highlighted set pieces as being his team’s major downfall throughout the campaign.

“We played well in the first half, but always the set-pieces cause problems for us,” Portugal said. “Today, we conceded from one corner and one penalty. It is the same story in every match. We scored first and played well when the ball was on the ground, but when the ball is in the air from a set piece, we have a big problem. And the other team knows this weakness.”

The 62-year-old further elaborated, “Football is a collective game. But it also depends on the individual mentality and individual action. And in this individual action, we always lost when the ball is in the air. And that is our problem always. When the other team had a foul or a corner, a window opened for the team, because they know our weakness. I am happy for the way the team played. But the set pieces are a big problem.”

Portugal also explained his team’s philosophy when they take the field. “We always play the same way,” the Spaniard stated. “When we have the ball, we try combinations, we try for more possession, we try for better finishing and we try opening up for the wingers. That is how we play football, and that is our philosophy. Our problem, like I told you, is when the ball is in the air.”