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Ahead of going against direct rival, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC head coach Owen Coyle talks about the team’s approach against an unpredictable Highlanders’ side, injury updates from the previous game and more.
On the team’s approach for the upcoming game against NorthEast United FC…
We have to approach each game like we always do and focus on one game at a time. We’ve a lot left to do even though we’ve done really well until this point, but that accounts to nothing. What we have to do moving forward, starting from going against a very good opponent like NorthEast United, is to try to win the game and collect those valuable points which will be our aim on a game-to-game basis. So, we’re only thinking about NorthEast United at the moment and we have huge injury concerns but we will look to put as fresh a team as we possibly can to try and win another tough game in the Hero ISL.
On the surprising element that NorthEast United FC bring in their fixtures…
NorthEast United FC are a very good team and I think they are being held back by major injuries and players missing from their squad this season. Khalid Jamil is not able to have the player continuity but when they look back to throw their strength at you, we saw their quality the other night when they came back after conceding against a very good Bengaluru side. Deshorn scored a wonderful header and then they went to win the game. So, we know they are dangerous opponents with a very good coach, Khalid Jamil. We will be very respectful of the opponents but we also know that when we are at our very best, we can win these tough games and that’s what we have to do. We have to stay focused, concentrated and be at our very best.
On the club’s qualifying chances being a big motivating factor against direct rivals in the upcoming games…
It’s always nice to hear when people say that we have attained the most wins, scored the most goals, picked up the most points but the truth is, it doesn’t count for anything until you get something tangible and that is the mission for Jamshedpur FC this season as we have never been in the playoffs to fight out for the trophy. So we want to try and take away enough points to do that. The only way to do that is by playing well and winning games as every game is a tough one even though people say we are playing our direct opponents. Every game is so tough in the Hero ISL and that’s why we must be focused and concentrated as I have said before. If we are, then we can win and pick up points which is what we need to do. But first and foremost, we have some hard work to do ahead of us. Even though we are in a nice position, that is all there is. We have to go and pick up those points to seal our place in the top 4 and from there, we will aim to push forward higher up the league as we possibly can, but we have to get the points first.
On the injury updates on Jitu and Boris…
Obviously, we’ll be decimated by the number of injuries in our NorthEast United game and I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. We already have Farukh Choudhary missing the whole season and then Komal Thatal who has missed the majority of the season, who is such a young and exciting player for us. I would be very surprised if Boris and Jitendra Singh are available for Friday’s game. Boris might be back sooner than Jitendra but it won’t be today or tomorrow, that’s for sure. So, those are huge blows to miss those players with Jordan Murray also not up to speed yet and he is not 100% match fit yet but he’s getting better with each day. So these 5 starters who are probably not available to us and that being said, this brings a wonderful opportunity for the other lads to step up in their place. We saw Mobashir coming into the team in our previous game and he was a regular starter for me last season but was pulled down due to injuries at the start of the season. Now he looks like he’s in a good place, both physically and mentally. So, hopefully the lads are ready to step in and show that they are a part of what we are at Jamshedpur FC. But it is fair to say that it will not be the same team that we had in the last few games.
On what led the Indian players to be more involved in the last 30 minutes of the games lately…
I think it’s been a process and we worked hard everyday on a daily basis as everybody on the training ground puts in their work. It’s not about clicking your fingers or sprinkling fairy dust, it’s about hard work, repetition and understanding your role and responsibilities in the team. I think the players are doing that well which gives me a tremendous satisfaction and joy when I see the Indian players grow. You expect the foreign players to be good and that’s why we brought them into the respective clubs but when you see the young Indian players develop, then you take joy from that because they really have the capacity to improve and honestly, they possess good physical conditions. They always seem to bring work, desire and hunger, and I helped them a little with their game awareness, management and football IQ along with a change in technique here and there. Of course we have very good players and that is the same with the other respective clubs with Jamshedpur FC being one of them; for the national team and Igor Stimac as well whom I speak to very often. So, that is a positive for everybody and when I look through all the other teams, it is good to see some nice Indian players get better and improve under the guidance of very good coaches and that is great for everyone in the league.
