Aidy Boothroyd: We’ve got plenty to play for

Jamshedpur FC travel to Odisha for their final league game of the ISL 2022-23 season. Aidy Boothroyd’s side will be looking to end a disappointing season on a confident note, after beating Hyderabad FC 3-2 in their previous fixture.

Odisha will be vary that a win against Jamshedpur guarantees them a playoffs spot, and the Red Miners will be hoping for revenge following a defeat in the reverse fixture that happened back in the first matchday of this season.

Two late Odisha goals completed an unlikely comeback, after Jamshedpur were leading till the final minutes. Jitendra Singh joined Aidy Boothroyd in the post-match press conference. Here are the quotes from both the player and the coach

Improvement in form

Jamshedpur have managed just four wins all season, and two of them have come in their last three games. Boothroyd said that he wants his boys to go all out in search of a fifth win, “It seems a lifetime away since we last played each other on that monsoon evening back in September. We were beaten by a last-minute goal so that hurt so like with every other game.

Odisha are a good team, going very well, we want to see if we can finish strong as well. We’ve had a considerable upturn in form in the last six games so we’re happy where we are. Disappointed not to be in the playoffs but for the integrity of the league it’s important we do and give our best and go all out to win the game.”

Opportunities for players to grasp

With the Super Cup to look forward to after the ISL season and the Champions League qualifying game, Aidy Boothroyd said that there is plenty to play for, “We don’t want the season to end, we want it to keep going so I’m thankful that we’ve got the Super Cup and a qualifying game in the Champions League so it’s exciting. We’ve got plenty to play for. Players are playing for places and when some players will get an opportunity that they might not already have had and they grasp that and go with it.”

Not converting chances

Jamshedpur’s players have been guilty of not capitalizing on the chances created, resulting in a frustrating first half of the season. Aidy Boothroyd believes that his players are now gelling well, “I think we had around 70 shots in three games which is ridiculous that we weren’t converting but looking from the sideline it’s a positive thing because if you’re conceding and not creating then you have a problem but we are creating are just starting to convert now so I think also the players playing with each other and getting used to each other.

The first half of the season was a sticky period for us, everything that could go wrong went wrong but the last ten games I’ve been very pleased with. Everyone knows their job and it gives opportunities, Jitu gets a chance and he plays and shows what he’s about and he was fantastic in the last game.”

Heading into the fixture in good form

The Jamshedpur FC coach praised his team’s character and professionalism and hopes to continue their three match unbeaten run, with an eye on revenge, “The character was there to see. 1-0 down it was a nice warm day in Hyderabad. Our professionalism, attitude and willingness to work for each other to keep coming back and deal with the punches, I was very pleased so, third in the form table but we want to finish as high up as possible.”

“Whenever we play we try and win every game. They’ve beaten us once at the start but we want to see if we can get revenge on that. We’ll work as hard as we can to get a good result because we’re looking at the Super Cup and looking at the Champions League.”

On Odisha FC and their approach to the game

Aidy Boothroyd praised the passion of his opposite number Josep Gombau, and predicts a good game at the Kalinga Stadium,

“Yes, I’m very confident (that we’ll win). They’re a good team, I like the coach, I like the way he plays the game and I like his passion. He wants to have a fight on the sideline which I like. I think they’ve got some exciting players who score goals and it should be a good game. It was a good game last time so we want to see if we can replicate that and come away with three points this time.”

Jitendra’s progress this season

Jitendra has played 12 games so far and has looked a much-improved player in his fourth season with Jamshedpur FC. The 21-year-old said,

“I think Eli did what needed to be done at that moment. We are a team and are there for each other and the coach told me to sit in my position and just control the game so I did my job.”

“This season I learned a lot under the coach. I just need to keep my head down and keep working and whenever my chance comes I need to take it and keep going. I’m still very young.”