Punjab FC Coach Panagiotis Dilmperis Reflects on Victory Over Hyderabad FC

New Delhi, India – Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis expressed that his team could have performed better despite their win against Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). Goals from Pulga Vidal and Filip Mrzljak secured Punjab FC’s third consecutive win, placing them at the top of the table.

This victory made Dilmperis the second coach in the league, after Clifford Miranda, to achieve a perfect win record in their first three matches. However, Dilmperis noted that his players were not fresh due to their recent schedule, which affected their performance. He emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “Today’s performance is not the one I expect from my players. It is obvious, they tried hard, but we are missing a little freshness because of the continuous games and the same eleven players were starting. But it is important that we were humble. We respect the opponent. We knew that it was not a bad team.”

In the first half, Punjab FC struggled with slow actions and finding spaces, but a foul on Vidal helped them unlock the opponents. The second half saw Punjab FC defending initially, but substitutes created more chances, leading to the second goal and a straightforward win after a red card to Hyderabad FC.

Hyderabad FC had more possession but failed to create significant threats, with Punjab FC keeper Ravi Kumar making only one save. Punjab FC recorded seven attempts and had better scoring opportunities, marking their first clean sheet in the league. Dilmperis praised his team’s defensive efforts, acknowledging Hyderabad FC’s strong players but highlighting his team’s solid structure.

Vidal was a standout player, scoring a stunning long-range free-kick and creating four chances before being substituted. Dilmperis praised Vidal’s talent and potential for further improvement, particularly in defending and positioning.