Clifford Miranda: We won the Hero Super Cup but that is now past

Clifford Miranda also spoke about the increase in young coaches in football.

Odisha FC will take the field in another important game after winning their maiden silverware in the form of the Hero Super Cup. This time, the Juggernauts will take on Gokulam Kerala FC for a place in the AFC Cup. Clifford Miranda's side will be keen to continue their good fortune and win another important game that will enable them to ply their trade at the continental level. With the team looking in sync and the key personnel showing good form, the coach would like his team to perform well in the qualifier and book an AFC slot.

Ahead of the game, Odisha FC coach Clifford Miranda addressed the pre-match press conference. Edited excerpts from the conference are as follows.

On the team's motivation going into the game

Clifford Miranda talked about the factors that are motivating him and his team to win the upcoming AFC Cup qualifier against Gokulam Kerala. He gave a brief explanation of how their objectives have been changing over the last few months. He said, "We came here with a definite objective. Our objectives kept changing and improving game-by-game. We assembled here on March 16; from then on, we have improved on a day-to-day and match-to-match basis. We won the Super Cup but now that is in the past. I hope that the players and myself realise that it is a new game and we have to start from zero once again."

The coach added, "The past is with us. But nothing will help us unless we start working again in the manner we have worked to date. It is the same thing. The process is the same. We have to play the game like we always play our games."

Changes for the next game

The former India international threw light on the possibility of any changes being brought into the team or their style of play. He said, "We will play in the same way how we have been training since the club appointed me as the head coach. In the Super Cup as well, we played in a similar way without changing much. We will try to field the strongest team that is possible for us."

Advantages of being a young coach

Clifford Miranda expressed his thoughts on being a young coach. He stated that the old notion that coaches should be old is changing. He also stated the various advantages of being closer to the age group of the players while guiding their gameplay.

"It is the same with young coaches and older coaches. I think the notion that older coaches give better results is now gone. It is true that the world is changing, the dynamics of football and coaching are changing. Now, people have began to study coaching from a very young age. Earlier, the common thing was former players becoming coaches. Now, because of education, a lot of young people are becoming coaches, which is really nice. We are moving from a traditional to a more scientific way of football coaching. This is very nice."