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After a two-week long gap and various days in isolation, Jamshedpur FC is back to get going on the pitch again, starting with FC Goa. Head coach Owen Coyle talks about the squad’s preparations for the game after the break, the motivating factor of the squad, Chima’s addition to the team and more.
On squad preparations after the break…
I don’t have any doubts that it is going to be a difficult match for us for a number of reasons – lack of training and being in quarantine for such a long period, which is a big challenge, both physically and mentally for the lads. Luckily, we have managed to get them back on the grass in different stages. 7-8 players have trained for three days, 4-5 players have trained for two and a few of them have trained just for a day.
On the challenge posed by FC Goa…
Yes, the other challenge is that we are going to be playing a very good FC Goa side with some wonderful talented players. They probably have not had the required results from their performances they have merited and that’s the challenge in the ISL. We have to make sure we are at our best in our upcoming game. There are players who are available for the match but there are a few players who won’t be able to make it to the game, but we have to make sure we are ready and aim to continue our winning run that we had going prior to the break. Obviously the break did not come at a good time in the season for us but we have started working again and building momentum. We’ve been playing very well, showing the desire and quality that we have. We’ll have to get back to doing what we are best at against a very tough opponent, FC Goa. They have very good players and a terrific Head Coach in Derrick. Clifford Miranda (Assistant Coach) is there as well and I know the quality of both those men. But again, it’s a game we are looking forward to and look to grab all the three points which is certainly the aim we have for the game.
On the break being a possible advantage for the players…
In terms of advantage, the viewers will say that the players will be fresh but that’s not completely true, because they have been stuck inside a room which they could not leave for almost two weeks which is a big challenge for them. So, I don’t see any major advantage in that as we have not been able to play and we have been stuck in our rooms in quarantine. But that being said, that’s what football is, it brings you many challenges, each game is different and brings in different challenges. This circumstance is also a big challenge due to the lack of play time we have had on the field after beating NorthEast United and SC East Bengal. Regardless, we are looking to carry that momentum forward in the remaining season. We are already seeing a number of teams who haven’t been as fluid as they normally have been because of the breaks, but we have to make sure that we are fresh and ready to give everything we have, as we always do in Jamshedpur FC. Everybody knows the characteristics of our team, the quality we have, how hard we work and the way we stick together as a team which is what we have to do against a very good FC Goa side.
On competing for the top spots being a motivating factor…
The motivation comes from being on the top spots at the end of the season and that’s our main motivator. Every game helps the team to achieve those spots. It’s nice to be on top with the points that the teams have been gathering in order to be in that position but the best time to be on the top or in the top spots is after the 20th game of the league. That’s the perfect time to be there and the only way to do that is to keep picking up points from every game. So we have to make sure we are fresh and ready to continue the momentum we had prior to the enforced break. Of course, we have many challenges but it’s a game we are looking forward to and we know it’s two good quality teams that will do everything in their power to try and win a tough game.
On Daniel Chima’s addition being a boost to the attacking line-up…
I am delighted to bring Chima to the team. I have admired him for many years and I knew of his exploits at Molde where he was a three-time champion working with Ole Gunnar Solskjær. I liked when he came into this league and even if you look at his individual performances in SC East Bengal, he performed ever so well even though he was isolated all by himself in the attacking front, but he carried the fight which shows us that he is a real team player and he sacrificed himself for the sake of his teammates which is the trademark of a very good footballer. So, I know his qualities and obviously it will take some time for him to build up that fitness and mentality that we look for in Jamshedpur FC but the players have really welcomed him in since his arrival. He is a lovely lad and has worked hard in the training sessions that he has had and it is great to have another quality striker who would complement Jordan Murray and Ishan Pandita, and I am sure these boys will do very well for this football club.
On Komal Thatal’s injury and availability moving forward
He is on his way back from injury and he has had some light training on his own. He later joined the squad and took some light touches in terms of warm up. So there is progression in his recovery but the FC Goa game might come too soon for him to recover for. I would love to have him involved from the bench just to give him a feeling of coming back to the pitch, but to do that, I need to convince myself that he’s at the required fitness level for that. If not, then he’ll certainly be involved in the next game moving forward.
