Bengaluru: Ashley Westwood believes it was a collective team effort that was behind his Bengaluru team winning their second I-League title with a 2-0 win over Salgaocar.
Goals from Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Seminlen Doungel handed the Blues maximum points at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium at the weekend, which was enough to see them claim an unassailable five-point lead over second-placed Mohun Bagan with one game remaining in the 2015-16 season.
The triumph means Westwood has now led the club to two titles in the past three campaigns, and the Englishman claims it was a sweeter success than two years ago.
“This victory feels a lot better,” said the 39-year-old.
“In the first one, people said it was a fluke given it was our first year.
“We should have won the second year also as we were the best team by a mile. We went 13 games undefeated and lost with three or four minutes to go.
“I wanted that to never happen again.
“All along the season I said 32 points will win it, two points a game, and that has been proven right.”
While he claims his side do not necessarily have the best talent in the league, he believes it was their ability to perform as a unit that ultimately was the reason for their success.
“We haven’t had the best squad and not the best individual talents,” Westwood added.
“Individuals win you games and not the league.
“That’s what has happened. You saw a really well oiled side, all players and staff pulling in the right direction, wanting to force the ball over the line.”
At present, it is not certain if Westwood will continue with Bengaluru, with his contract set to expire in May.
Nonetheless, captain Sunil Chhetri has called on his boss to be handed an extension after his title-winning feats.
“He is the head of our family,” the India international told Mail Today.
“He is the one who would say if things are not broken, don’t fix it. Our club is not about individual glory. We have had a lot of different scorers this season.
“We strive at being a good unit. Who did what is secondary, what really matters to us is winning trophies, and that’s something our manager also believes in.”
As champions of the I-League, Bengaluru are guaranteed continental football in 2017 although it is yet to be decided if that will come in the AFC Champions League or the AFC Cup.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com