In their last game of the Indian Super League season, Chennaiyin FC hosted Jamshedpur FC at the Marina Arena. With only pride at stake, the Marina Machans secured an impressive 5-2 victory to round off their season. Here are Owen Coyle’s thoughts on the match and the season after the win.
Owen Coyle on the result:
When Rei Tachikawa gave the visitors the lead, the stadium’s excitement subsided. However, the Marina Machans put up a strong fight and led 2-1 at halftime. They increased their lead in the second half with another goal. Although there were some nerve-racking moments for the hosts as Jamshedpur pulled one back, they ultimately won 5-2. Owen Coyle discussed the performance and said there was considerable pressure at 3-2.
“I felt aggrieved to be 1-0 down, but we scored a wonderful goal. We scored a couple of late ones, we were under pressure in 3-2 because we had to stand up and deal with a lot of cross balls and throw-ins and corners coming in, but the boys stood up to that. Even when we went a goal behind. We’d been the better team at that time, but we had chances.”
“We had a similar performance at Jamshedpur as well. I was pleased with the attitude, the focus. It’s an easy thing, you know, it’s the end, it’s the last game. It doesn’t matter. Every game matters. Every time you step on that field, it should matter to you personally, for yourself, for your teammates, for your club, and ultimately for your supporters. So, I’m pleased that we’ve put a smile on their face.”
Owen Coyle on Irfan Yadwad:
Irfan was on target again today, scoring a brace. With five goals and four assists this season, Irfan has nine goal contributions, ranking him among the greatest Indian attackers this season. Given that he has one year remaining on his contract, the Marina Machans has to commit him to a long-term deal. Owen Coyle discussed the player and his contract status.
“There’ll be huge interest in Irfan. But Irfan will be a Chennaiyin player. He’s under contract. We want that to be extended long term. But Irfan needs to keep producing performances like that. And then, everybody will be after him anyway. But he knows, how he’s enjoyed the opportunity. Had he been at another club, I’d say, you know, he might not have got the opportunities he’s got.
“But I believed him from day one. Even when he’s not performing to the maximum of his abilities, what he brings as a teammate and as a player with his work rate and appetite, it’s second to none. And for me, he’s got a huge, huge part to play in Chennaiyin moving forward.”
Owen Coyle on the season:
With all due respect to everyone associated in the club, it is fair to state that Chennaiyin FC has not performed to the level that they are capable of. Many things have gone wrong for the Marina Machans this season, including their fragile defense and dismal home performance. Speaking on the season, Owen Coyle stated that they will examine all of the issues and evaluate them before the next one.
“The biggest reason is we’ve not performed well enough on the field. There’s many, many things, we’ll certainly look at and we have to address and get better. Because, we need to get this club, and I’m certainly not used, as you know, to not being in the play-offs. I certainly know the bits I think that can get us back to where we need to be, to be challenging in those play-offs, fighting for those trophies as we want to be at CFC.”
“So, I think you have to look at all that together and think, okay, would that work better for us? Does that work better? So, there’s different things we have to look at for sure. But the bottom line is with all that, we have to be better, particularly at home on the field to win those games. We, and ultimately, I’m the head coach, we need to be performing better, more consistently.”
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