By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: On the back of Shillong Lajong FC’s hat-trick of losses, coach Desmond Bulpin decried a negative attitude surrounding the team, saying that “negativity is what kills us.”
Lajong lost two away games to Dempo and Mumbai before coming home and losing to Churchill Brothers on Saturday by conceding a goal in the last minute of second half stoppage time.
“We’re getting it right most of the time. The boys have been outstanding and I’m very happy with their performance,” Bulpin told reporters at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, a day ahead of their eighth round match against Pailan Arrows at the JN Stadium, Polo.
He was also keen to remind critics of Lajong’s recent achievements, including winning the pre-season North East Lajong Super Series.
“We beat Mohun Bagan (in the I-League opener), which few thought we would do, drew against Salgaocar and beat Prayag, a team that has a budget six or seven times greater than ours,” Bulpin said.
He still described the 1-4 loss to Dempo as SLFC’s “best performance of the season”, claiming that the team were unlucky to lose, but admitted that Lajong were poor against Mumbai.
“The game against Mumbai was the only one where we were poor and we were missing two key players there.”
The morale of the home team will be on the lower side while, on the other hand, Pailan Arrows who are having a great run this season, will be looking to take advantage of Lajong’s recent poor form, although coach Arthur Papas remains cautious.
He described Lajong as a “tough team” even if recent results have not gone their way. “They can get a good result on any given day and I expect them to start very aggressively against us tomorrow,” he said.
On getting used to the conditions here in Shillong, Papas said that while it is different to what his team is used to, they are professionals and have to adapt to the situation.
At this point Bulpin chipped in with his observation that Shillong is perfect, in terms of weather, for football, but it is the travel that is arduous. He claimed that the Reds have to travel the most of any I-League team.
The visitors have brought a full strength team, while Lajong have been hit with injuries to Ebi Sukore and Boithang Haokip.
Despite the team not performing at its best, it was noteworthy that Bulpin continued to back his players. “This team has a philosophy of only fielding Indian players from the North East and I’m happy with that philosophy, but it does mean that we’re left with a small team to draw upon. People have to realise that there’s a thing called development and it takes time.
“The boys are wonderful,” he added. “Always willing to listen, whereas [in some other countries] they’d be more arrogant.”
He maintained that the recent defeats were not because the players underperformed and he refuted criticism of how his team played against Churchill, where the players often kicked the ball forward instead of attacking with a series of passes.
“I do not see any problem since they are they are attempting to put the ball forward by hitting the ball in the air.
“Churchill did it too. In India, as soon as you’re put under pressure, there’s a habit of kicking the ball.
“I am aware that everybody wants to see the team play like Real Madrid and Barcelona. But we should realise to play like them we also require players of that calibre,” he said.
Bulpin was still bullish about Wednesday’s match, saying, “I am pretty confident that the players will be able to turn the fate of the team around.”
Lajong have won two out of three matches against Pailan, but lost the last one – in the Federation Cup – in September.
Papas said that Pailan won’t be taking Lajong lightly. “We have to be 100 percent against Lajong. They press the ball and get into position quickly.”
“One lack of detail can end up costing you the game,” he added after referring to Lajong’s last-minute loss to Churchill.