ISL: Bengaluru FC chasing perfection against Delhi Dynamos

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Bengaluru, November 25: Ball possession of 56 per cent and 11 crosses. Four hundred and forty-seven completed passes compared to the 326 of Mumbai City FC. It's no wonder that Bengaluru won, by a 2-0 margin, in their first Indian Super League game last Sunday. They were just better in every department of the game. However, what worries coach Albert Roca ahead of their ISL match against Delhi Dynamos FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium is that they converted only two of their seven shots on target and nine shots off it.

"I am not happy with the performance in the first game," Roca said on Saturday (November 25). "So we have to grow as a team. It's not just the win, we need to see how we go about the game. Everyone likes to win, but I want them to win after dominating. We're never happy, we coaches."

"It's too serious to say I didn't like the way we played against Mumbai," he clarified further. "I think we have to just improve. When you are winning, it's not that everything else is going well. I think you still have some gaps in the team. We have to grow up if we want to be a better team and why not if we have a good chance in the championship. But it's in every area that we have to improve."

Roca specifically mentioned that his forwards have to pull up their socks if they want to make a mark against the Dynamos, who were 3-2 winners against Pune City FC. BFC, meanwhile, rode on Edu Garcia's opener and Sunil Chhetri's injury time goal against Mumbai.

"The way we build from behind - the transition between defence and offence. You always can think something is not so good. I think we have to be like this as coaches, otherwise we will have nothing on our minds. I will not be honest if I said to you if I am happy. It was good. I understood it's not easy under these new circumstances. But players also know they have to improve in certain areas. I have to push them if we want to reach our goals."

He, however, was confident that his strikers can do the job. "When you are missing chances, others can score," he added. It happened last year in a few games. Let's try to score as soon as possible or at least to create to chances to play good. If you create, then you are putting the pressure on the other team and making things good for yourself. It will help us score. But I have to see that it's not just about Sunil (Chhetri), Miku but others in the team like Braulio (Nobrega), Toni (Dovale) who can help us. I am also thinking of Daniel (Lalhlimpuia), (Thongkhosiem) Haokip and Alwyn (George). They don't have the opportunity now, but they will have a chance later. We have to be mentally strong later."

The Dynamos, under coach Miguel Angel Portugal, also a Spanish, play a similar possession-based football. They too enjoyed about 60 per cent of the ball possession against Pune City. Their stats are even better than BFC - 548 completed passes, 23 crosses and five shots on target. Youngster Lallianzuala Chhangte in particular was impressive for his swift runs through the defensive lines. Mathias Mirabaje, who scored the third goal for Dynamos against Pune City, curled one to the far post from a short corner. Garcia opened scoring for BFC with a similar set-piece play, but sent his strike to the near post.

The two teams are alike undeniably, but Miguel Angel feels whoever scores the first goal will win the game. "They play like the way I like because Albert Roca is a good coach and we play similar styles," Miguel Angel said. "Ball possession is definitely not very easy because Bengaluru go fight for that. But I think that's a good philosophy. And I think they will play that way against us."

However, Dynamos conceded two goals cheaply - one in the 67th and another in the 90th, which is a cause for worry for Miguel Angel considering he's of the opinion that the first team to score will win. "I am worried for that because the opponent scored two goals," he added. But that's football and we lost easy balls. I need them to improve in the defence. I am happy otherwise."

Bengaluru FC vs Delhi Dynamos

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