Chennaiyin FC will hope that a return to their home ground will help them get back to winning ways as they host Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on October 7, Saturday. Owen Coyle’s men have lost both their games so far and they have failed to score even once either. The Mariners, on the other hand, sit at the top of the table with six points from their couple of matches.
India at Asian Games: FULL COVERAGE | MEDAL TALLY | RESULTS | SCHEDULE
What’s at stake?
Chennaiyin FC
Coyle came back to Chennaiyin amidst much fanfare but he possibly needs more time for his ideas and philosophy to reflect on the pitch. The team has lacked incisiveness going forward and their backline needs further strengthening too. They will be banking on support from the home crowd to bag their first points from the campaign in this match.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Juan Ferrando has gotten his team to play his brand of football very swiftly despite some notable new additions. The signings have adjusted into the setup pretty seamlessly and they will now look to carry on their incredible run of form on the road too.
Key Players
Bikash Yumnam (Chennaiyin FC)
The centre-back has to ensure that the home team’s defensive unit is solidified to prevent any further passage of convenient goals for the opposition. Chennaiyin have already conceded five times in two games so far but Bikash has impressed with two clearances and tackles each along with an 84% passing accuracy.
Anirudh Thapa (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)
Anirudh Thapa returns to face the club that made him a household name in Indian football. Chennaiyin bid him an emotional farewell in the summer but the midfielder will be eager to showcase his skills and produce a performance to remember against the Marina Machans.
Head-to-Head
Played – 6
Chennaiyin FC – 1
Mohun Bagan Super Giant – 2
Draws – 3
Trivia: In his earlier tenure, Owen Coyle had joined Chennaiyin FC midway through ISL 2019-20 and sparked a remarkable turnaround to take them to the final of that season
Team Talk
“In terms of the league, if you look at the league right now, the teams that have started really well are the teams that have played two home games together. Obviously, the teams that have not had the best of starts are the ones that have played two away games barring Mumbai, who are a champion team. I think people look at results. As coaches, it’s important to win, but you need to look deeper. If you win, it doesn’t mean you are a great team and if you lose it doesn’t mean you are a bad team. There are reasons for it and you need to understand them and make sure you get better as you progress,” Chennaiyin FC head coach Coyle spoke about playing the team’s first home fixture of the campaign.
“It’s important to win three points. All the teams are doing well. Chennaiyin have lost their two matches but it’s their first home game so it will be difficult (for us). At this stage, the most important thing is to find the best lineup, the best squad. I think for us the most important thing is to think of the present. For me, it’s important that it’s not just about the physical condition but also the mental conditions for the players to be ready and motivated for these matches,” Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Juan Ferrando mentioned about the team’s target of taking all three points from the upcoming match.
Comments
0 comment