Fatorda: Salgaocar Sports Club coach Karim Bencherifa has appealed for calm from fans and his own team ahead of the seventh round I-League clash against Churchill Brothers at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday.
The defending champions have stuttered thus far in the league with just seven points after six matches but coach Bencherifa believes his team is now getting back into the groove.
“The completion of our win against Churchill Brothers tomorrow would get us back on track. It’s important that we secure a win and restore normalcy.
“I guess it’s normal for teams to lose and stutter a bit but our fans and the team needs to remain calm. Such a situation is normal in football and we must realise that. Manchester United for example lost 1-6 but did not press the panic buttons. Chelsea FC is a very strong side but lost matches at home. Such things happen,” said the Moroccan coach.
The last two matches for Salgaocar, though, have been fruitful and Bencherifa now wants his team to show the same character. Salgaocar defeated Mumbai FC at home by a solitary goal and then managed a goalless draw against Prayag United away to collect four points from two matches.
“The last two results encourage me. We have managed to keep a clean slate and have been solid with set-pieces which was a problem area earlier. We are definitely improving,” said Bencherifa, adding that he would ring in a couple of changes to bring in fresh legs against Churchill.
Churchill Brothers have not been flashy in this year’s I-League but coach Manuel Gomes’ side have been solid. They have lost just one game against Mohun Bagan and have generally not lost sight of league leaders Dempo Sports Club.
The battle against Salgaocar, though, will not be easy and Gomes’ players will have to give a good account of themselves against a team that is determined to make amends. Gomes is expected to field an unchanged side.
