Chennai: After a reamarkable win away to Odisha FC on matchweek one of the 2024-25 ISL, Chennaiyin FC are back in action and will play newly promoted Mohammedan SC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, on September 26, in Chennai.
Head coach Owen Coyle addressed the media ahead of the fixture, talking about his team’s positive start and also the excitement of playing in front of the home crowd and of the opponents, Mohammedan SC.
Here are the key excerpts from the interaction:
Q: Mohammedan have shown great fighting spirit in their first two matches despite this being their first season in the ISL. Your thoughts on their team?
Mohammedan SC is a club enriched in the fabric of Indian football, a club with fantastic history.
We played them last year in the preseason and I got to know a bit about their club, and walked around their training facilities.
When I went around seeing the trophies, the history, I realised this was a club with a great history. And now they have come to the ISL.
They are not here to stand back and applaud. From the two games, they have shown that they’re a good side.
They’ve a very good coach who is doing very well. They’ve got good players as well. I felt they were unfortunate to lose against NorthEast United and also the other night against FC Goa, they should have won the game.
We are very respectful and complimentary of what they are. But I’ve said before, we respect every opponent but we do not fear anybody.
I am excited and am looking forward to the game. I think it’ll be a very good football match.
Q: This will be your first home game of the season. How is the feeling and what are the areas you are looking to improve?
First and foremost, delighted to be back at home. We had a fantastic run towards the end of last season culminating in some super victories.
The boys are hungry, they are looking forward to playing the game.
There are things we can do better.
We could have avoided the second goal. Maybe since it is the end of the game, the players felt the match was won but with so many late goals in ISL this year, the game is never finished until you hear that final whistle.
Apart from that, the character and quality we showed against Odisha was exemplary. A great win but that’s finished with.
We have to focus on what’s in front and look to improve.
Q: CFC is playing after a ten day break, which could be far from ideal given the momentum from the first game. Do you see this break as an advantage?
In fact, it will be twelve days when we take the field two days from now.
I think the scheduling has been kind to us, while we had this break, other teams have played multiple games.
Punjab would have played three games as they have a game tomorrow. Mohammedan have played two in that time period.
We have not sat idly by in this break. We have worked really hard on the training ground and are prepared for the game.
Our first seven of the ten games are away fixtures. The scheduling is what it is. We don’t moan about it. We see for what it is and we prepare ourselves and make sure we are at our best.
When we are playing at our best, we know we can win games. It is not an ideal situation (the scheduling), but it is what it is. We have to make the best of it.
Q: You said previously that you now have two equally good players for each position, how do you go about keeping the squad happy, and on what basis do you select the team?
As a coach, these are the problems you want. When I said I have two players for each position, I want every one of those 20 outfield players and the two goalkeepers fighting and competing.
Ultimately, when a player plays well, they will stay in the team. There will be times where tactical tweaks will be needed and one player might be preferred over the other.
But for the most part, if players are playing well, they’ll stay in the team because they have earned it.
Whether it is a young Indian lad, or a foreigner, selection will be a fair fight, based on merit. Merits of what you do now, not what you did last year.
What you’re doing now, in the training ground everyday and what you deliver in the match will determine whether you will play or not.
Q: Thoughts on Farrukh?
I speak with Farrukh everyday. There were times where he did not perform to the level I know he is capable of.
Nobody is a bigger admirer of Farrukh than me, because I have seen him.
You also have to remember that Farrukh suffered a horrendous injury and was out for a year. When you come back from a long injury, sometimes it takes time.
One thing I always say to him is I believe in him, I trust him.
Even when you take the goals out, Farrukh had an outstanding game for the team.
We hope to see the very best of him this season.
I also want to mention young Irfan, who I love to bits, he is getting better and stronger.
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