Ashley Westwood Fokus Tuntaskan Kontrak Interim di Kerala Blasters

Manajer interim Kerala Blasters Ashley Westwood memilih untuk fokus menyelesaikan kontrak jangka pendeknya daripada membahas masa depan kepelatihan permanen dengan manajemen klub. Keputusan tersebut diambil setelah timnya mengalahkan FC Goa dengan skor 1-0 dalam lanjutan Liga Super India (ISL) 2025-2026 di Stadion Internasional Jawaharlal Nehru, Kochi, pada Senin (18/5/2026) malam WIB.

Sebelum jalannya pertandingan, Ashley Westwood sempat mengingatkan skuadnya untuk menjaga momentum positif demi menghindari penyesalan di akhir musim kompetisi.

"They are a top-ranked side and have some very good Indian national players and experienced foreign players. We have to go out and give our best and try to win the match," ucap Ashley Westwood, Head Coach Kerala Blasters.

Manajer interim asal Inggris tersebut juga menekankan pentingnya profesionalisme kepada seluruh staf dan pemain untuk tetap memberikan kontribusi maksimal bagi tim.

"Nothing's guaranteed in football. You have to work hard first and foremost. You have to match physicality and physical outputs. But at the end of the day, let's not finish the season on a down. We've been on an upward trajectory since the day I got here and just keep the momentum going, give it your all and let's not sit in two or three days' time where we're regretting things that we didn't give our everything to get the result. If we don't get it, that's fine as long as we give it our best," jelas Ashley Westwood, Head Coach Kerala Blasters.

Di balik performa apik tersebut, manajemen klub dilaporkan telah berulang kali meminta pertemuan untuk membahas masa depan kepelatihan Westwood secara permanen.

"To be honest, the management have asked me a couple of times for meetings," kata Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Namun, mantan pelatih yang menggantikan David Catala sejak jeda internasional bulan Maret 2026 itu memilih berfokus menyelesaikan kontrak jangka pendeknya.

"But me personally, when I came here, I said, listen, I am coming to help. I have got seven games, let me focus on seven games, let me give as much as I can. And when everything is finished, when the dust settles, you know, we can sit down and talk about the future," ujar Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Sikap tersebut diambil karena internal tim sedang menghadapi ketidakpastian akibat krisis kemitraan komersial liga yang belum diselesaikan oleh Federasi Sepak Bola Seluruh India (AIFF). Masalah pembagian tanggung jawab komersial membuat klub sempat menolak tawaran kerja sama senilai 64 crore rupee per tahun dari perusahaan Inggris, Genius Sports.

"I am one of these people who is very straight, very honest and I do not want to enter any conversations until we know the future. And at the minute, as it stands, no one knows the future of Indian football. So, why speak about ifs, buts, maybes? Once all the facts are in, then I will be ready to talk," tegas Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Westwood menambahkan bahwa ia akan terus memimpin latihan dan pertandingan hingga gambaran mengenai kelanjutan kompetisi menjadi lebih jelas.

"But until then, I concentrate on football and you never know when your last day can be in any job, in any position. So, we just keep training, keep playing and once we know the landscape, let us sit and talk," tambah Ashley Westwood, Pelatih Interim Kerala Blasters.

Di kubu lawan, pelatih FC Goa Manolo Marquez mengonfirmasi adanya rotasi pemain dalam susunan starter saat menghadapi laga tandang ini.

"Some changes will be there among the starters but that’s not important," ungkap Manolo Marquez, Pelatih FC Goa.

Manolo Marquez sebelumnya memprediksi pertandingan berjalan sengit karena motivasi tinggi dari kubu tuan rumah serta dukungan penuh dari suporter setempat.

"We need to be competitive (regardless of the changes). We face a team that is most motivated in the competition, even more than the teams who are fighting for the title. They have changed some foreign players and they are now better. They are playing with confidence. The crowd is also there and now more supporters will be at the stadium. It will be a nice farewell game of the season," tutur Manolo Marquez, Pelatih FC Goa.

Kemenangan tipis lewat gol tunggal Kevin Yoke pada menit ke-48 tersebut membawa Kerala Blasters mengoleksi 18 poin dari 14 laga, sedangkan FC Goa tertahan dengan raihan 21 poin di papan klasemen sementara, dilansir dari laporan langsung Sportstar.

Pertemuan antara seluruh klub ISL, kecuali East Bengal, dengan pihak AIFF dijadwalkan bakal berlangsung pada 22 Mei 2026 mendatang untuk membahas keberlanjutan kompetisi.