Good evening,
We’re back in action after a short gap of three days that has gone by very quickly, and this is something we will have to get used to as the season progresses. But like I told you the last time, we’ve had a very long and grueling pre-season, and everyone is happy to be able to play competitive football again.
It was good to get our first game out of the way, and importantly to come away with all three points. We scored the first goal and found the back of the net again in the first half which was very encouraging. The second half we kept the ball very confidently and were sure of the possession we had and I felt we deserved our win given how we improved as the game got older. Importantly, I was happy with the mentality the boys showed on the pitch and outside of it too.
Of course, we sat and analysed the game with the team and we realise we need to be sharper in many aspects. I want to see us winning more duels. We had a lot of positives from the win that we will be taking into this game.
Speaking about the game, we take on Odisha tonight, and again it’s a team that we don’t know anything about. They’ve brought in a new coach and a completely new set of foreigners. The good thing is, we have a habit of focusing on ourselves and we look to play to our strengths.
I was shown a few videos of a number of you fans who had gathered for a screening of the game in Bangalore, and it was nice to see you enjoy the goals and the win. I also heard that all the players received a personalized message on the day of the game, wishing them luck and I thought it was a lovely gesture. It’s nice to see the bond you fans share with the team despite the distance and I believe that will grow stronger as the season progresses. We will keep needing your support at every stage of this season.
We will look to put on a better performance today, one that showcases the kind of football we want to play. I’m hoping we can end up with the same result again. Sit back and enjoy the game.
Love,
Marco
02The Big
Preview
STRANGERS, STILL
An odd number of teams in the League saw Odisha sit out of gameweek one, which means Bengaluru have seen nothing of their opponents who have assembled an almost-brand new team. A season to forget that saw Odisha finish last on the table, prompted a massive overhaul that included bringing a new coach and six fresh foreign players. Spaniard Kiko Ramirez holds the reins of this Odisha, and only Wednesday will tell what he intends doing with it.
OVERSEAS OVERVIEW
With Ramirez in charge, Odisha have unsurprisingly shopped for as many as four Spaniards this season. Javi Hernandez and Victor Mongil are no strangers to the League, both having spent seasons at ATK Mohun Bagan previously. Striker Aridai Cabrera and defender Hector Rodas are the other two Spaniards in the side. Striker Jonathas (Brazil) and midfielder Liridon Krasniqi (Malaysia) complete Odisha’s foreign contingent.
WORK AT THE BACK
The Blues may have come away 4-2 winners in their opening game against NorthEast United, but Marco Pezzaiuoli admitted that his team would have to be tighter in games ahead, more so the defence. While the relentless rains made things difficult, it wasn’t an excuse for the way Bengaluru let the visitors claw back twice after going a goal down. As the season gets old, teams will begin settling in and the margin for error will decrease.
GOALS AND MOMENTUM
The goals had dried up for Bengaluru last season, and to score four in this season’s opener gives you an indication of how much they are keen to make amends up ahead. The own-goal aside, Cleiton Silva, Jayesh Rane and Prince Ibara put the ball in the back of the net and Pezzaiuoli will urge his troops to build on the momentum in attack. He’s said he doesn’t care where the goals come from, he just wants them – as many as possible.
MEDICAL UPDATE
Leon Augustine who suffered an ankle injury minutes after coming on in the second half against NorthEast, looks doubtful for tonight’s clash against Odisha. Rohit Kumar and Akashdeep Singh look like they will miss out on a second straight game while they recover from injuries.
03BFC
Squad
GOALKEEPERS
DEFENDERS
MIDFIELDERS
FORWARDS
04OFC
Squad
GOALKEEPERS
DEFENDERS
MIDFIELDERS
FORWARDS
Head Coach
06UP AND
AWAY
I’ve never experienced culture like I have in India
It’s our first away game of the season and we sat down with Musavu King who opened up on all things he loves away from home…
1: If you could play in one away stadium, anywhere in the world, which stadium would it be in and why?
It would have to be the Maracana. I watched Brazil play a game there on television and I could feel the vibes sitting in my living room. When a stadium does that to you over television, you can only imagine what it would be like to play there. It was a great sensation.
2: Which is your favourite city to travel to for an away game?
Marseille. I went to watch Marseille play PSG and it was something else. The atmosphere was incredible. If we’re talking apart from footballing reasons, I’d love to travel to Milan because I’ve heard it's a great city with so much happening.
3: Which stadium has the best atmosphere according to you?
Marseille, again. The atmosphere is simply incredible, it’s very nice to be a part of. You have to witness it to know what I am talking about.
4: Moving away from football, have you traveled to any city and said “Wow, I’d love to move here”?
Yes, Toulouse. My son was born there and it's a very great city. It’s a big city and yet, it’s not too much. You get what I mean? Also, the people from there are among the kindest and nicest that I have come across. I would definitely like to settle down there after my career is done.
5: Which city’s or country’s food do you enjoy the most?
Italian food is very good. You can eat everything from their cuisine, Pizza, Pasta, Risotto and I can go on!
6: Is there any away game that you remember as a “brilliant game”?
I think my first game in the Africa Cup of Nations with Gabon. It was incredible, we won and the atmosphere was great. We played in Guinea against Burkina Faso, it was a very good game and I have very fond memories of that night.
7: Do you like the culture of any particular country or city?
India (nods head in affirmation). I like all the different cultures here, I can see it in our different players in the team itself, everyone is very respectful as well. It’s fascinating that people belonging to the same country have such unique identities and cultures of the state or city they belong to.
8: If you were traveling to away games this season, who would you want your roommate to be from the team?
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. He was my roommate for the AFC Cup in Maldives and he’s a very nice, funny and professional guy. He’s so many things at one time.
9: Which player is your go-to guy for laughs on an away trip?
I think Prince Ibara. He’s one of the funniest people around. After him, it would be Parag and then Suresh. Those two guys are really funny too.
10: When you travel for an away game, what’s your playlist like?
I like listening to worship music. It helps me relax and focus at the same time.
07FLASHBACK
OFCBFC
Odisha FC 1-2 Bengaluru FC
GMC Stadium, Bambolim
Odisha came into last season’s clash at the Bambolim as the home side, and one of only three sides in the League who were winless. The Blues started on the front foot, with shots from Kristian Opseth and Erik Paartalu going wayward. It was the hosts who had the ball in the back of the net first though, albeit with the assistant’s flag up for offside when Diego Mauricio slipped Manu Onwu through.
Skipper Sunil Chhetri then gave his side the lead when his leap beat that of Shubam Sarangi to meet a cross from Harmanjot Khabra in the 38th minute, nodding home the opener on the night. Bengaluru had a chance to double their lead on the hour mark when Paartalu’s effort was parried away by Arshdeep Singh.
Odisha pegged Carles Cuadrat’s Blues back through veteran defender Steven Taylor, who poked home a free-kick from Jerry Mawihmingthanga to pull level. Bengaluru refused to relent and found their response only seven minutes later, when Udanta Singh nodded down into the box for substitute Deshorn Brown to lay it off for Cleiton Silva. The Brazilian made no mistake, volleying past Arshdeep to score his third of the season, and hand the Blues all three points.
