With only one win in twelve games, Chennaiyin FC’s chances of making the playoffs for the second straight season are practically lost. After a dismal 3-1 loss to Kerala Blasters FC at home, the Marina Machans will face East Bengal away from home next. Owen Coyle and Mohammad Nawaz spoke to the media about injuries, fan outrage, and the Super Cup, among other matters, prior to their travel to Kolkata.
Owen Coyle on the fans anger:
Owen Coyle led Chennaiyin FC from the bottom of the league to the finals in the 2019-20 season, and the club’s fans have remained loyal to him ever since. Almost every supporter welcomed Coyle’s return to the club, and they supported the Scottish head coach last season when he led the team to the playoffs. However, given the loss in the last game, there were some angry shouts from the fans calling for better performance from Coyle. The head coach addressed the issue, emphasizing that his side should have performed better at home this year.
“I know how much the fans, or the supporters, how much they love the club. When they come in huge numbers, then it’s great because it creates a better atmosphere. One thing I would have to say is, we certainly have to do better in the home games than what we’ve done this season. There’s no doubt that’s true. We won one game (at home), that’s not been good enough for what we need to do for this club and everything else.”
“So, for the fans, as much as it’s been not the season that we all expected, support your club, get behind the team. There’ll be peaks and troughs. Fans and supporters want you to be winning games. And when you don’t, you leave yourself open to criticism. I have no problem with that, that’s the nature of football. I understand that. I’ve seen that on both sides. They’ve been very good to me. So, I can’t start crying when there’s criticism coming because it’s fair.”
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Owen Coyle on team news:
Chennaiyin FC would be relieved to have Wilmar Jordan Gil available for the upcoming encounter after his red card against Kerala was reduced to a yellow by the AIFF Disciplinary Committee. In addition to discussing the decision, Owen Coyle provided an update on Dinliana and Vignesh.
“We obviously know now, which we knew at that time, it was never a red card (Jordan’s challenge on Milos). Vignesh has started training. I’m hoping that Vignesh is fit and available because he did well the game prior to it. But we do have one or two other little niggles. Dinliana has dislocated his shoulder and requires a surgery.”
Owen Coyle on poor defense:
Despite completing six defensive additions in the summer, Chennaiyin FC’s defensive performance has deteriorated from last year, with the club presently second worst in the league in terms of goals conceded. To be fair to Coyle, injuries have played a significant role, but they could certainly have done better. Owen Coyle discussed defensive errors in concentration as well as injuries that forced adjustments.
“I think we’re lucky if maybe twice in a row we’ve played the same back four in consecutive games. That’s not to hide by anything, because even the ones that take the field, still need to do better. But even within those games, when they have played them, we’ve changed them. That’s been unbelievable. Normally as a coach, you very rarely change a back four during a game. Because if you’re going to win a game, you’ll make attacking changes. But we’ve had to make sweeping changes with different injuries.”
“Defensively we should do better, 100 per cent. But there has been that lack of continuity and consistency where you get a solid back four. The other thing happens when you’ve made a mistake, there can be a lack of confidence. Huge things, body language is different. So that’s an ongoing work, continuing to work with them. They are, certainly the majority of them are young, so they have upscale.”
Owen Coyle on Super Cup:
Despite the uncertainty and lack of news surrounding this year’s Super Cup, it would be a fantastic opportunity for Chennaiyin FC players to put smiles on their supporters’ faces if they could perform well. The team needs to work hard to get as far as they can in the tournament since they might have an Asian berth up for grabs. Owen Coyle stated that they will go into the Super Cup trying to do their best and earn the Asian slot.
“It’s really important that you start against East Bengal, you look to get that run going in at the end of the season. We have to show we’re ready to go and fight and do what we can to win those games, get ready, win the games, finish strong. There’s a Super Cup to play for, with an AFC spot. So, nobody’s giving anything up here.”
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