Bengaluru FC’s semi-final hopes went up in smoke after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of ATK Mohun Bagan at the PJN Stadium in Goa on Sunday. This result means that the Blues can’t qualify for the semi-finals of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). 

BFC Head Coach Marco Pezzaiuoli was disappointed with the lack of chances his team created but asked for patience from the fans in relation to the young players in the team. Goals by Liston Colaco and Manivir Singh ensured that the Mariners came away with three points.

Match Report:  ATK Mohun Bagan inch closer to semi-final spot as Bengaluru FC crash out of the qualification race

Marco Pezzaiuoli addressed the media after the game. Here are some excerpts from his press conference:

You cannot mathematically make it to the semi-finals. What have you experienced over the last 19 games? And what do you think went wrong today?

I think we played well today in the game. We had a good time and we made it difficult for ATK Mohun Bagan to play football. Normally they are a great possession team. We had good chances but not really clear chances, it was only Sunil in the first half and a very good pressing situation, good ball position but in the end, we conceded a goal out of nothing and that was a little bit disappointing. Second half, we had good ball possession as well but it was missing. We didn't come behind the defense and when we came behind the defense line we didn't bring the ball inside again, cutting backward and we missed the last pass in the box. We get out of nothing the second goal and that was very disappointing too but I don't make something against Roy because he didn't play for a long time and trained two-three times with the team but we needed a fresh midfield player to avoid muscle injury. We missed the point at the beginning of the season. I think individual mistakes, not finishing penalties, mistakes in set pieces and as a result, we are missing the six-seven points. But I think we have shown in the season how we press, how we play football and that's also something special. In the end it is not enough to be in the top-four but I think on this basis we can make the next step for the next season, also for the next game.

What was your chat at halftime?

I said to be positive, go on, don't get a negative mindset because we played very well. ATK Mohun Bagan had almost no chances and they didn't play football at all because we made it difficult and I said to go on and try to come more behind the defensive line and create more chances. But we didn't have enough chances to score goals in the end. We had one shot on the goalkeeper and it's not enough to win a game against a good ATK Mohun Bagan team.

You have given many young players opportunities this season and with the main core of the team being over 30 years in age. How do you see that?

I think this is the right way because when you invest in the youth department, you need to bring them on the first team. Because when you don't bring them it's not necessary to spend money in the academy. I think we have good youngsters. I think that's very important. It is also important that the fans and the club need to have patience. Youngsters will make mistakes like today. Lara makes great saves earlier, but today he makes a mistake that leads to the goal. But he saved two games. For us that will happen, it is going up and down for youngsters and it's just a part where they're learning and they make the next step. This is very important.