Punjab FC head coach Staikos Vergestis was happy with his team’s performance as they recorded their first away win of the Indian Super League (ISL) season with a 3-1 success against Kerala Blasters FC in Kochi on Monday. 

A brace from Wilmar Jordan Gil and a goal from Luka Majcen helped them overcome a deficit to claim all three points to register their second straight win in the league. 

Vergetis felt his players executed his game plan perfectly and are now used to the level of the ISL. 

“I feel very satisfied because the players are executing the gameplan at a very high level as we had prepared this game,” he said at the post-match press conference. 

“I think our players step on the field with more confidence. They have now played a certain number of games in the ISL which they had never played before. That has given them experience which is very useful,” he added. 

The Greek head coach explained the tactical tweaks that he has made to the team that have helped them start the second half of the season in style. 

“I changed the formation as I wanted the team to be more dangerous in attack,” Vergetis said. 

“In the previous formation, we weren't threatening the opponent team too much. I gave Madih Talal the liberty to move behind the strikers. This gave us the opportunity to be more dangerous,” he added. 

With six goals in two games, Vergetis’ changes are paying dividends but he also has a lot to thank to Gil who has hit the ground running after injury. 

“Wilmar Jordan Gil suffered a lot. It's difficult to stay out of training and the games,” he said. 

“What makes me happy is that he insisted on working. Everyone supported him. Now that he is in good condition, he has shown his capacity,” he added. 

However, the Punjab FC head coach also credited the defence for aiding the team’s improvement. 

“We have improved a lot of things in our defensive actions,” he said. 

“I think we move the ball better and we are more clear about pressing. We have also improved our one-on-one defending. We were receiving a lot of crosses in the first half of the season but we have improved that,” he added. 

Punjab FC couldn’t have picked a better place to win their first away game in the ISL other than Kochi, a place where no other team has come away with three points so far. Vergetis though hailed the atmosphere at the stadium even though it didn’t offer much support to his team.

“All players must enjoy this kind of atmosphere and we enjoyed this atmosphere. We hope to have such an atmosphere in every stadium where we play,” he concluded.

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Wilmar Jordan GilPunjab FC2023-2024 Madih Talal