Kerala Blasters, despite losing their top scorer from last season, Dimitrios Diamantakos, have been in impressive form in the pre-season and the Durand Cup. Their Moroccan forward, Noah Sadaoui, won the Golden Boot award in the Durand Cup, and the team is hoping that he and Spaniard Jesus Jimenez will continue their fine form in the upcoming ISL season opener against Punjab FC.
“We have been pretty solid so we are absolutely ready but the games in the ISL will tell us where we stand. It will be a hard game but hopefully we can beat them,” said head coach Mikael Stahre.
Punjab FC, who beat Blasters 3-1 in Kochi in their debut ISL year last season, and drew 1-1 in the recent Durand Cup, are also confident of a good performance.
“We have a new coaching staff, new foreign and Indian players and that is the biggest difference from last season,” said Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis. “This season we will try to better the performance from last year and qualify for the playoffs.”
