Minerva wary of Gokulam

Panchkula, Feb. 19: Debutants Minerva Punjab FC will look to return to winning ways when they take on seventhplaced Gokulam Kerala FC here on Tuesday as they seek a maiden Hero I- League title.

But Minerva could adopt a cautious approach after their tiring 0- 1 defeat at the hands of East Bengal at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here.

Gokulam are in blazing form after beating both Kolkata powerhouses in successive fixtures. They humbled Mohun Bagan 21 in Kolkata and then dented East Bengal’s title hopes by the same margin in Kozhikode.

Gokulam’s red- hot form can be assessed from the fact that they have collected a total of 12 points in their last five matches.

Second in the points table with the title up for grabs, Minerva head coach Wangkhem Khogen Singh very well knows the significance of this fixture.

“The match against Gokulam is very important and we have already convinced our boys how important this match is for the I- League title. If we take three points in this match then we are on top,” Khogen said.

“The boys need to understand this and they will give 100 per cent in the match. In this league, the lower team or upper team doesn’t make any difference.

“Now we are in a tight situation. The title is close to our hands. But still, we need to work to get it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gokulam Kerala FC coach Bino George said playing in the top flight league and rubbing shoulders with country’s premier clubs would provide his players with the much- needed experience which will prove to be worthwhile for the future.

“As for my team, all our young boys are gathering huge experience from each game. Playing in Hero I- League will give them experience which they don’t have at the moment,” he said.

He added that his boys were not under any sort of pressure.