AIFF MEDIA TEAM

Bengaluru: After back-to-back wins to start their Hero I-League Qualifier campaign, Delhi FC are looking to register their third consecutive win when they face Kerala United at Bengaluru. Debutants Delhi FC, touted as one of the top contenders for the title in the tournament this year, opened their campaign with a 3-0 win against ARA FC and followed it up with a sensational 5-1 win against Corbett FC.

Riding on their recent performances at the Durand Cup, where they finished in the quarterfinals, Delhi FC are the table toppers in Pool B. After maintaining a clean sheet against ARA FC in the first game, Delhi FC suffered a minor setback in the second game when they conceded an early goal against Corbett FC, but they rallied back in the second half to score five goals and clinch the victory.

However, their opponent in Tuesday’s game can be tricky, and no one knows that better than their head coach Surinder Singh. He said, “Kerala United are a very well-prepared team, and we definitely cannot take them lightly. We have seen that they are capable of winning matches, and they have a very experienced coach in Bino George. We need to ensure our boys play to the plan and get the three points from tomorrows game.” 

Speaking about the team’s performance so far in their Pool, Delhi FC midfielder Sukhpreet Singh said, “Our biggest strength is that we work together as a team, be it in defence or the attack. We understand each other, and when we go on the pitch, that is visible. The staff are also very hardworking, and we go into every match with a mindset to win the three points and finish at the top of the table.”

The Delhi FC midfielder further emphasized that the team’s pre-season training and experience in the Durand Cup has been a big bonus in their preparations. “It has really helped that we were together in the pre-season and a good number of matches in the Durand Cup helped us in our preparations. Now, we are focused on one mission, and that is to make it to the Hero I-League,” Sukhpreet said. 

Talking about the support Delhi FC has been getting from their fans all through their campaign here, Surinder Singh said, “It’s great to see the support from our fans, we are playing for our fans, and they have all tuned into our matches, which is very motivating for us as a team. It is great that the AIFF is live streaming these matches as others from top leagues can also see how good our players are, and this can help create opportunities for them too.”

Meanwhile, the mood in Kerala United is also upbeat following their 2-0 win against Corbett FC in their previous match. Arjun Jayaraj said, “After our second match, the mood in the team is very good. We dominated the game, and our confidence is very high. However, Delhi FC will be a challenging team, and we have to fight for every goal. It will be a good contest.”

Kerala United head coach Bino George further expressed that the team has progressed well into the league. Although they are currently placed third in their Pool behind Delhi FC and Kenkre FC, George reflected the team’s confidence. He said, “Whatever errors we are making, we are improving in each match, and the boys know the seriousness of the match tomorrow. So I am hopeful they will deliver.”

“We could have started better in the league if not for the injuries to some of our key players. Also, we were not able to convert goals even though we created enough opportunities. However, we have been training well over the last 2-3 days, and we have been working on different strategies that will work against Delhi FC.”

The match between these two sides will kick off at 3:45 PM IST and will be streamed live on the Hero I-League’s official Facebook page.