After suffering a crushing 3-0 loss to Northeast United FC at home, Chennaiyin FC will play Khalid Jamil’s Jamshedpur FC at the Marina Arena. It will be Chennaiyin FC’s final match of the current Indian Super League season. Owen Coyle spoke to the media one last time this season, with Farukh Choudhary.
Owen Coyle on Jamshedpur FC:
Khalid Jamil took over as manager of Jamshedpur FC 18 months ago after Scott Cooper was fired by the club following a poor start to the season. Since then, the Indian head coach has had enormous success, leading them to a top four finish in the league this season. Khalid is only the second coach to achieve so, after Owen Coyle. Coyle talked about Khalid and his team before the match.
“I like Khalid, since I came into the league, I found him a very good coach and obviously like most coaches he’s had different experiences. I remember coming in Northeast and doing very well and getting to the playoffs and then sadly in the following year he left the Northeast. I like and have huge respect for him.”
“We know they are tough opponents; we’re looking forward to the game, we went there and obviously one of our better performances this season, we’re showing what we can do, and we want to get to that level again tomorrow. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing them all but obviously we want to finish with a win and then set ourselves up for a big Super Cup to come.”
Owen Coyle on the season:
When Owen Coyle finished sixth last season and made a large number of additions in the summer, the assumption was that he and his team would go on to achieve greater success. However, things have gone horribly wrong, and the team now appears guaranteed to finish in eleventh place. Owen Coyle discussed the season and their lack of success.
“It’s not a success, we have to accept that, I mean, that’s the nature of football. Nobody hides from that; nobody runs from that. It’s been a disappointing season, we have to be honest with that, but I certainly, as I look at it, I think I understand the reasons for that, it’s not about being made public, because, as I said before, that’s for me knowing, and making those, as we do as a club, correcting that, and making sure that next year, we’re a team that looks and thinks, oh, yeah, that’s the Chennaiyin that’s been there before.”
Farukh Choudhary on National team:
Despite netting a brace in the season’s opening game against Odisha FC, Farukh has struggled for goals subsequently, failing to score. Despite this, Farukh has been called up to the National squad by Manolo Marquez for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Farukh discussed the influence that coaches’ faith might have during difficult times.
“It’s always good to have coaches who believe in the players like gaffer (Owen Coyle) is here, he’s always there behind me to back me up. In the same way, when I went for the last two games in the national team, I think I did decent, score one goal and the next camp I played as a number ten. Maybe that is the reason he’s picked me up back again.”
“The faith is very important for me personally because there are times where it’s very difficult to pick myself up and go again, that is the time when I need it the most. So, this gives me in a way a boost for my confidence and I hope I go there work hard and do the same things which I’m doing here, work hard and make sure I show my abilities there as well.”
Owen Coyle on Sunil Chhetri’s return:
Many Indian football supporters were taken aback when Sunil Chhetri was selected as one of the 26 players for the next national team camp. Although this move may assist the Indian football team qualify for the Asian Cup in the near future, the search for the country’s new number nine is still ongoing. Owen Coyle discussed the legend’s comeback and the potential effects he may have on the squad.
“Sunil Chettri has been a consummate professional, his attitude even you see him this year, the way he’s kept himself in shape, the drive, the tenacity, all that stuff he has. He’s shown through many, many years he has wonderful qualities. You need to ask Manolo, maybe he feels that his presence within the group, adding bits of experience. I had that, you know, in my latter days as a player coach. So, there’s certainly reasons for it.”
“I think Manolo knows that over the course of years and years to come, Sunil’s probably a short term to maybe help in terms of the camaraderie, getting the group together, different things. There are many qualities, but there’s no doubt there’s a lot of good young players there that want to emulate and go on to be that number nine, and I think Manolo will give them the opportunity to do that at the right time.”
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