ISL 2019 | Coach told me I wasn’t playing very badly, reveals Nishu Kumar

Long before Udanta Singh eventually unlocked NorthEast United’s staunch defence by putting in an easy cross for Miku, who opened the scoring for the hosts in the second half, Nishu Kumar had created the easiest chance of the game with an impeccable left-footed cross into the box that Miku couldn’t keep in.

Full backs have been a significant piece of Bengaluru’s puzzle in ISL this season with the likes of Nishu, Rahul Bheke, and Rino Anto often seen playing the most important pass of a match. With the Blues now reaching the final of ISL for the second time in two years, their left-back revealed what Carles Cuadrat had told him before the big game on Monday.

"I was very confident as all the senior players supported me. The coach had told me I was playing very badly in the last two games. He told me you have to go all out. I am happy that I had a good game," he said, reported Goal.

The youngster from Uttar Pradesh has played 15 matches for BFC this season, scoring once. Coming out of the AIFF Elite Academy a few years back, BFC has become his abode and he has lived up to the billing. BFC would likely face FC Goa in the final next, a side that Bengaluru have beaten twice in both the fixtures of the league stages. 

Goa have always been offensive in their approach like Bengaluru and could do some real damage on the night of the final. Nishu, who had seen a red card the last time he faced Goa, however, sounded more excited about the clash than nervous. 

"Goa is a very good team, they also like to play (similar style of ) football. It will be a very good game. We had beaten them the last time we came up against them. I hope we win. I have to maintain the balance. When we have the ball, I have to go onto their defenders. They have good wingers and fullbacks and it will be good to win against them," added Nishu.