After almost 11 days without training and 17 days without a match, Jamshedpur FC are finally set to step into the field as they take on FC Goa on Friday evening at the GMC Athletic Stadium. Jamshedpur’s last two games were postponed due to COVID hitting the bubble.
“Yeah, obviously it’s going to be a difficult game as we haven’t trained and played for a considerable amount of time. That’s a challenge physically and mentally for the lads, but we will manage to get to the grass. The challenge is bigger as we are playing FC Goa who really have wonderfully talented players. Probably the results have not merited them but that’s a challenge Indian Super League gives. We have to make sure that we continue our winning run.”, said Owen Coyle.
Jamshedpur FC is currently on the third place in the table, with 19 points in 11 games. The other three teams in the playoff spots are Hyderabad FC, Kerala Blasters FC and Mumbai City FC. Jamshedpur’s game against the latter two got postponed. Those results would have been influential for the current scenario in the points table. Owen Coyle’s team currently have a great chance to take the top spot on the table, given that the result of Hyderabad FC-Odisha FC favours them.
“The motivation is to finish at the top places at the end of the season. Every game helps you to do that. The top of the league spot doesn’t come for nothing. We want to continue that momentum we had prior to the postponement of the games.”
Daniel Chima has been bought in as the replacement of Nerijus Valskis who headed his way back to Chennaiyin FC where it all began on the Indian soil. On being asked about Chima, it turned out that he was being admired by his new head coach for a long time.
“I’m delighted to bring Daniel Chima. I have admired him for so many years. I know him from his days at FK Molde where he was 3-times champion working with Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer). I really liked it when he came into this league. He was isolated upfront (at SC East Bengal) but he carried on the fight, which shows me the sign of a team player. He sacrificed himself for his team.”
“I know his quality and obviously it will take time to build up, but he has that mentality which takes to play for Jamshedpur FC. The players have welcomed him, he is a lovely lad. He worked hard in the two training sessions he had. It’s great to have another great striker to compliment Jordan Murray and Ishan Pandita. I know that he will do very very well with this football club.”, added Owen Coyle who seems really impressed and excited to have Chima onboard.
Owen Coyle doesn’t seem too convinced with the notion that this break has freshen up the people involved. “In terms of advantage, people say that this break comes as an advantage as it will freshen us. But I don’t see any advantage in being stuck in a room for two weeks.”
The press conference ended with the head coach giving a positive update on Komal Thatal. “Komal is on his way back. He did some late training on his own. He joined in the group with some warmups. Maybe the FC Goa just came way too soon for him (?). I would love to have him on the bench, just to know that he has a feeling to come back. But to do that, I need myself to convince the medical team that he is fit enough to play. If not the Goa game, then certainly the game next to it will have Komal.”
Follow our website for more latest updates on Indian Football!