Scott Cooper warns opponents don't underestimate Jamshedpur FC's record as league's best defensive side

The tactician is looking forward to the game with an eye for three points.

Jamshedpur FC will be in action in the Indian Super League 2023-24 on Sunday, 22 October 2023. As the side prepares to welcome newly-promoted Punjab FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, head coach Scott Cooper spoke to the media and answered several questions regarding the squad, Rei Tachikawa and more.

The Men of Steel won their previous contest in the ISL by a 1-0 score against HFC. As the side is playing at home again, the hope will be to replicate the result against a Punjab FC side that Cooper is not taking lightly.

Here are the excerpts from the conversation from the pre-match press conference with Scott Cooper:

Important to rest

Scott Cooper was not fazed a lot by the pause in the proceedings due to the international break considering that his side had won their first game of the season prior to it. “It's important to mix it up because rest is valuable, but at the same time, you have to remember that you're in the middle of the season. We had to vary the intensity levels in training. You also worry about not injuring your players. It's a balance,” he said in the matter.

Not worried about league standings

The tactician perceives the ISL league table differently and believes his team is not far off from the leading pack at the moment. In this regard, he said, “Well, you could say eighth; I could say joint fifth or fourth. It's the same number of points. We don't even play tonight, and we can move up in the standings. We could be at six tonight with the results. I don't see us as eighth.”

“I think, among the teams on four points, we're the lowest due to goal difference. But we're also the best defensive team in the league and that shouldn't be underestimated,” he further added.

Respect for the opponents

Scott Cooper does not underestimate any team in the ISL and will treat the newly promoted Punjab FC with respect. “We know they're a good team. They're a confident team with a good coach. We don't underestimate anybody. It's the same feeling for us. Whoever is coming here, they'll receive the same amount of respect, and they can expect the same level of fight from us, no matter who it is,” he said while talking about the opponents.

Need for different profiles

Talking about Rei Tachikawa, who converted a brilliant free-kick against Hyderabad FC to hand JFC three points, Cooper spoke about how the player brings a lot of quality to the side. He said, “He (Rei Tachikawa) can score amazing free-kicks. He is a box-to-box player, enthusiastic, and possesses good technical ability. You don't want a team of players with the same qualities. Jitu and Pronay bring in a certain type of qualities, and Jeremy Manzorro, being a foreign player, also brings in his own unique qualities.”