Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters are looking forward to replacing interim coach Ishfaq Ahmad with Quique Flores. After a disastrous start to the ISL 2020/21, Kibu Vicuna was sacked mid-season, and his assistant Ahmad replaced him till the end of the season as Blasters were looking to stabilize a sinking ship. However, the Blasters are looking for a permanent solution.
According to Football Express, Kerala Blasters are interested in the former Watford manager Quique Flores. Flores is currently without a club and could join the team before the start of the next ISL season. Flores has managed a number of teams in different countries like Spain, England, Portugal, UAE, China. He has also won the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup as the manager of Atletico Madrid. The Spaniard could bring in a wealth of experience in European football.
Kerala Blasters had their worst run in the ISL last season since the league has been introduced in India. They finished 10th in the league with only three victories in 20 matches. Kerala struggled throughout the season and barely managed to put up any fight. Kerala had one the worst defensive record in the league and conceded 36 goals in 20 matches. They failed to fill the void left by Sandesh Jhingan in the defense.
Blasters have not finished in the top 4 since 2016 and have become a mid-table team despite early success. They have signed some new players to bolster their squad for the new season. The 20-year-old defender Hormipam Ruivah recently joined the club along with promising left-back Sanjeev Stalin on a 3 – year deal. Denechandra Meitei has also extended his contract with the team. Flores is a marquee name, but his experience will definitely help Blasters to get better and improve performances in the league.Â