Jesus Jimenez, The New No. 9 For Kerala Blasters, Says He Will Help The Team But Would Be Happy To Win Golden Boot

Kerala Blasters’ new foreign striker, Jesus Jimenez, is aiming to lead the team towards Indian Super League silverware by focusing on team play rather than outshooting his predecessor. 

Jimenez, who replaces Dimitrios Diamantakos, acknowledges that a one-man army is not the best approach for achieving the team’s goals.

“Yes, I know about last season’s striker”

Jimenez said “Yes, I know about last season’s striker (Diamantakos). I am very happy for him. But, I’ve come here to help the team in every way possible. It will be good if I win the Golden Boot, but, of course, the most important thing is the team,”

As the season neared, fans’ concerns about Sporting Director Karolis Skinkys grew. KBFC announced the forward’s entrance on August 30, exactly a fortnight before the ISL season began, after thorough searches during the transfer window.

“Joining a new league in another country is always difficult”

Jimenez, though, is more concerned about adapting to Indian conditions and changing his style of play to suit manager Mikael Stahre’s system than he is with the time wasted.

“Joining a new league in another country is always difficult as different leagues have different requirements. The humidity and the temperature here can be tough on players and I have to adapt to it as quickly as possible.” Jimenez said “Everything is new for everyone when playing under a new coach. It is the gaffer’s decision where I have to play and I will do the best I can in whatever position he puts me in the field,”

In keeping with the idea that it takes a village to build a successful endeavor, Jimenez emphasized the attraction that the fervent support of the State’s supporters had on him when he decided to sign with the Blasters.

“I’ve come here as I can also be a part of the big fan-base in Kerala. For me, it is always amazing to play for the fans because it is one of the reasons I became a football player. I’ve played in Europe and America. So, this adventure in India is so exciting for me.” He added.

Jimenez’s fervor was evident when he scored in injury-time against Punjab FC, despite the goal not being enough for a draw. As Blasters host Diamantakos’ East Bengal on Sunday, he emphasized not putting extra emphasis on playing better against teams with a spicy rivalry against KBFC.

He said “My teammates have been explaining the rivalries in the league. But I am not going to look at which team I am facing. My aim is to help the side with assists or goals in every game,”

The former striker for the Atletico Madrid youth team talked about how working with well-known players like Lorenzo Insigne of Toronto FC and Lukas Podolski of Gornik Zabrze helped shape him into the player he is today.

He added “I learnt a lot from Lukas and Lorenzo. It is difficult to explain in words as it is more like a feeling. A technical part would be how they scanned the field before they received the ball. I also grasped how they were helping their teammates and making the side better. Happy I got the opportunity to play with such players,”

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