Bhubaneswar: The Kalinga Warriors remain alive in the race for the playoffs and will host Hyderabad FC in a crucial Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 encounter at the Kalinga Stadium, here on Friday.
The Kalinga Warriors come into the fixture after a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Punjab FC after going a man down. For Sergio Lobera's team, their playoff hopes depend on winning the remaining four matches. Currently, the team is in 7th place with 26 points.
Earlier this season, Odisha FC made history with a 6-0 win over Hyderabad FC, a result that also gave them their first clean sheet of the campaign. Hyderabad, on the other hand, started the season slowly but are coming into this game with renewed confidence after a 3-1 win over Mohammedan SC. They are in 12th place in the league table with 16 points.
When asked about the team’s playoff chances and whether they should take more risks, Odisha FC coach Sergio Lobera responded: “Obviously every game is like a final for us. Tomorrow is the first one. But I believe, I hope we can get the playoffs, and in the remaining four games we can give everything. It's not easy, we are in a not easy situation. But my feelings with the team, with the squad, with the players, I have amazing professionals and amazing players. They showed in the last game they are believers. Finally, when you are working with this kind of people, you need to be positive, you need to be confident. Even if it's not easy, my feeling is we are going to get the playoffs and tomorrow is the first final for us.”
Lobera also emphasized the importance of focusing on the next game: “I think the most important thing now is to put the focus in the next one. If we are thinking about where we are going to be in one month, it's a mistake. The focus needs to be on the next game. It will be a difficult one, and if we think it will be easy, it's a big mistake. Hyderabad has shown their potential against strong teams, and it’s crucial to get these three points.”
