BENGALURU, INDIA: Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis, a man of few words, is known for his domineering presence on the touchline. The Greek tactician, who joined the Shers ahead of the 2024-25 season, led them to an eighth-place finish in the league with 8 wins in 24 games.
In the 38 games he has been in charge of Punjab FC so far, Dilmperis has won just about as many games as he has lost – 16 and 17 – while drawing 5. His success rate, as of now, is 42%. In this season of the Indian Super League (ISL), Punjab FC have won one and lost one game so far – the win coming against Bengaluru FC (2-0) away from home on 27 February.
The India Sports Tribune was quite fortunate to have an exclusive, if brief, interaction with Dilmperis, soon after their record-breaking win in Bengaluru (it was Punjab FC’s first victory in this city and at this stadium), and before they went to Delhi to host NorthEast United FC. The Shers are currently 9th in the table.
“It was a good win against a really great opponent in an away game with a full crowd. We came back from our previous loss [0-1 to Jamshedpur FC], basically, this is the most important thing, we came back with a good performance comparing with the previous game. And, yes, we have to hold this performance and go on against NorthEast United FC too,” said Dilmperis.
“Three points every game, that is what matters. Even more so against the teams that you believe you will be in the same position. And I was thinking that Jamshedpur FC would want that. We shouldn’t have lost in Jamshedpur – that was hard to get over,” he added.
“All our games are away” – Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dlimperis
Dilmperis was quick to ward away the fact that home advantage mattered, especially since Punjab FC do not have one to boast of in the ISL. The Mohali-based club have been asked to play all their home games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi since their promotion to the top division in 2023-24.
While this was done ostensibly to use the facilities of the Nehru Stadium – since few stadiums in Punjab were deemed fit to host the ISL – it has led to a reduced turnout over the years. Dilmperis, 51, however, mentioned that winning games away from home makes a big difference to the confidence of his players.
“All our games are away – we don’t have home games as a matter of fact (laughs), so yes, it’s important, since it’s giving confidence to the young players, it’s giving confidence even to the foreign players who now they are adapting to things in Indian football but it will not mean anything if in the next game that we have in Delhi, we do not win,” he elaborated.
Punjab FC play their next game against NorthEast United FC, at their ‘home’ in Delhi, on Monday, March 9. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM IST, with live broadcast on Sony Sports and streaming on FanCode.
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