Kashyap felicitated the I-League champions Bengaluru with praise but believes his team did well despite loss to the champions....

Santosh Kashyap was magnanimous in defeat, as Bengaluru FC overcame his Salgaocar side by a 2-0 scoreline to seal the I-League title in Bengaluru, on the evening of 17th April, 2016.

Goals from Eugeneson Lyngdoh (8') and Seminlen Doungel (87') dealt a heavy hand to the Indian gaffer, who has eleveated his side to safety for one more season in the league despite a poor start to the season by the Greens.

Speaking to the media after the defeat, the former Royal Wahingdoh gaffer praised the Bengaluru team and offered his congratulations.

"Before anything, I would like to congratulate the Bengaluru FC management, the fans, the players and the coaching staff. It is an excellent environment and they deserve it this time. They have set the benchmark in Indian football and hope other clubs will follow it soon," he opined, heaping prasie on the Blues.

Asked to elucidate on the aspects in which Bengaluru have evolved, the 49-year-old revealed, "They have had fans in thousands who come up every game and they have built upon that. Other clubs have long histories but here they have created and developed. Everyone is professional in all aspects here and I hope there will be more clubs like Bengaluru FC coming up in India."

Quizzed on his own team's performance in the game, the former Indian international computed, "I am happy with my side's performance tonight. We were up against a very good team. We played our style of play and were compact in defense as they dominated the first half. I have to change the strategy according the strengths of my team. In the second half, we had a few chances on the counter-attack which we could not utilize.

"Sunil Chhetri produced a piece of quality in the last minute, as they scored on the counter-attack. I am happy with the way they played and I am happy with my team as well who have done well with limited resources. We will try to win the next game and if we do, we still have a chance to be in the top four."

Kashyap regretted the need to bring off their U-22 developmental player, Aslon Oliviera, mid-way into the first half.

"Yes, he doesn't have enough exposure as the other players but has done well in the last couple of games as well. When I joined Salgaocar FC, he was lost in the first match and (I) had to bring him off in five minutes. At least he played 45 minutes of the last game but he could not deliver what I needed from him here because of the pressure. The opening was not happening on the right hand side hence I had to bring in Brian Mascarenhas for him," clarified the gaffer.

Finally, the former Air India and ONGC coach divulged the details as to why Thongkhosiem Haokip wasn't named in the starting eleven despite the absence of Darryl Duffy, who had been suspended for the game.

"I chose players on current performances not the past. He has done well for us as well, he scored twice versus East Bengal, but he is fatigued. He could not do well in the last game versus Aizawl FC as well and I had to bring him on in the second half as I didn't have Duffy. I gave Manandeep a chance who did well. Martin Scott returned from injury and he did well in his limitations. I take a call on the players' current performance," concuded Kashyap.