ISL final: 'We were knocked out when we thought we had control' - Bengaluru coach Roca

Following the 3-2 defeat in the ISL final to Chennaiyin, Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca accepted the blame for his team's loss. Having topped the table with an 8-point lead in the league stage, the curse of the table-toppers not winning the Indian Super League trophy struck yet again as Chennaiyin won the trophy at the Kanteerava.

"Today was not our day," Roca said after the game. "We have not had enough strength to come back in the game when it was possible. It's difficult when we are under pressure - when we have finished first, 8 points ahead of Chennai. But congratulations to Chennai; they were more lucky than us today.

"We are human beings. The players did a good job this season and I'm proud of them. I'm sad for the fans but that's football. We weren't lucky in the crucial moments of the game."

At 1-1, Dimas Delgado was down injured and had to be substituted at the exact time Chennaiyin had a corner kick. The match officials only allowed the substitution to take place after the set-piece and down to 10 men, Bengaluru conceded a second as Mailson Alves made it 2-1.

"We were playing a good game and suddenly we concede in set pieces - it's quite rare and quite strange. It was a difficult moment when Dimas was getting substituted. To concede two goals from corners in a final is a shame but football is like this."

Chennaiyin scored through Mailson Alves when Bengaluru FC

were

a man down [Image: ISL]

"Set-pieces are a strong point for our team but we conceded twice in the final today," he continued. "We were knocked out at the moment when we thought we were in control.

"One of our best players was injured and we defended with one player less. It was a big disaster to concede two goals."

'Difficult to motivate my players at half-time': Roca

The second goal came at the stroke of half-time and Roca admitted he found it tough to motivate his squad during the half-time team talk.

"It was difficult for me to motivate my players at half-time," the Spanish manager said. "Chennai are very experienced, they have a good defence that tries to take advantage of mistakes of other teams and that is what they did today. It's a part of their job they did well."

Having been forced into bringing on Victor Perez for Delgado, Roca only had two more substitutions to make. And he made a double substitution on the hour-mark with makeshift centre-back Erik Paartalu sacrificed for Nishu Kumar while Daniel Segovia came on for Boithang Haokip.

"In the second half we tried," he explained. "I always wondered about the last two changes. I felt I couldn't wait too much. After 50 minutes it was in my head - to risk substitutions.

"The blame lies with me, it's my responsibility and I accept it. Sometimes I'm wrong, sometimes I'm right. The coach makes mistakes and perhaps I made a mistake."

Roca refuses to blame Chhetri for miss in second half

Bengaluru almost fought back valiantly when captain Sunil Chhetri had a chance to peg one back for the Blues. Receiving the ball inside the box, Chhetri skied his shot over the bar but Roca did not want to dwell on that miss.

Sunil Chhetri reacts after his second-half miss in the ISL final [Image: ISL]

"Sunil is an outstanding player and I'm proud of him," he said. "He scored the first goal in a final but he's a human being. I know that he wanted to win more than any other player.

"He was trying until the end. Things can change so quickly in football. He's a fantastic player and he will recover from that moment and help us finish the season in the right way."

Bengaluru are still in the AFC Cup and also have the Hero Super Cup to look forward to try and win their fifth trophy and keep the trend of winning at least one trophy every season alive.

"We have to be focused in the two tournaments we have ahead," Roca said. "Now it's difficult. The players know we will never give up.

"Tonight it's difficult to think about it but tomorrow we will wake up and look forward to playing the Super Cup and finish top of our group in the AFC Cup," he concluded.