These are things we've been working on in training: Owen Coyle on team's goals against Punjab

Owen Coyle was ecstatic to see his side demolish the opposition in a five-star performance.

Chennaiyin FC secured their second victory of the 2023-24 Indian Super League campaign after a 5-1 win over Punjab FC at the JLN Stadium in Chennai on 29 October 2023. It was a sensational all-round performance by the Marina Machans which saw Connor Shields scoring a brace while Ryan Edwards, Rafael Crivellaro and Vincy Barreto scored a goal each.

Owen Coyle spoke to the media after the game in the post-match press conference. The head coach of Chennaiyin FC was delighted by the performance and highly praised his players. 

Here are the excerpts from the conversation between Owen Coyle and the representatives from the media:

Need to be consistent

Owen Coyle was pleased to see the effort put in by the players in training bearing fruit in the performance. He was delighted with the all-round display and said, “Some of the football we played in those 25 minutes was outstanding. That's what we need to bring. We have to keep delivering it every week.”

“If you look at the variety, it was all different types. These are the things we've been working on in training, so it's gratifying,” the tactician further added pointing towards the different kinds of goals CFC scored on the night.

Praise for Rahim Ali

Owen Coyle reserved some extra praise for Indian striker Rahim Ali who had a brilliant outing despite not being one of the scorers. Applauding the striker’s contribution to the team, Coyle said, “Rahim Ali is a fantastic player. He's a fantastic team player and I have no fear of trying new things (playing with two Indian midfielders or swapping strikers). His work-rate, the chances he created for others, and his selfless performance were truly impressive. It was a significant team effort, and I hope there is more to come from him.”

Focused on producing good results

Owen Coyle concluded the interaction by talking about CFC’s tendency to start games well and ending the campaign well being important. “When a season starts, it's not how you start a season; it's how you finish a season. We all know too well at this fantastic football club, I never get too high. But equally, I don't get too low. I look at it and I analyze it. On balance, we had the best first chance in every game,” he mentioned.