Always exciting to play against a big club such as East Bengal: Owen Coyle

Owen Coyle says it is hard to score goals against East Bengal.

Chennaiyin FC is set to take on East Bengal FC as the Indian Super League resumes after the recent international break. The Marina Machans have only won twice in six matches in the 2023-24 campaign as of yet. Owen Coyle’s men are struggling to find a rhythm and will hope to steer the ship straight when they face the Red & Gold Brigade.

Head coach of Chennaiyin FC, Owen Coyle, and striker Jordan Murray took part in the pre-match press conference ahead of the crucial clash on Saturday. They spoke about several topics in and around the upcoming fixture at the JLN Stadium in Chennai.

Here are the excerpts from the conversation:

Looking forward to the match

Owen Coyle seemed thankful for the international break as it allowed his players to rest and rejuvenate ahead of the league fixtures. “Everybody likes to get into a break on a winning result. That never happened but it was important for our lads to spend time with their families, especially after a particular run of games and it allowed some players to go home. We worked hard after the break to prepare for the match at home and are looking forward to it.” he said.

Focus on making fans happy

Owen Coyle clarified that playing against clubs such as East Bengal FC is always a delightful opportunity. His team’s main aim will be to play well and make their own fans happy. He opined, “It is always exciting to play against a big club such as East Bengal FC. We have a fantastic fan base and we would like to reward them by playing well and hopefully put a smile on their face.”

Praise for Carles Cuadrat

Owen Coyle showed respect towards Carles Cuadrat, East Bengal FC’s head coach, and expects the game to be difficult. “It is always going to be difficult to play against East Bengal FC in the ISL. It is not easy to score goals and it is the hardest part of football. He (Carles Cuadrat) is an outstanding man and I know how hard he works, so we know it is going to be a difficult game,” the head coach explained.

Jordan Murray on his fitness

The striker has been unable to play a big role for Chennaiyin FC due to injuries at the start of the season. However, he remains positive about his fitness and said, “For me, it is about putting my head down and working hard for the team whether I am starting or not. I have just been happy to have the opportunity to play football.”

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