Odisha game big challenge, but we want to play against best players, claims Thangboi Singto

The tactician wants the team to push for the win and rise from the bottom place in the table.

Hyderabad FC are in tatters and still looking for their first win of the 2023-24 Indian Super League season. It is hard to digest that the club that won the ISL Trophy two seasons ago is languishing at the bottom of the league table after nine games, having drawn four and losing five already.

Their next assignment pits them against one of the in-form teams of the league, Odisha FC. The Kalinga Warriors, buoyed by their continental achievements, look stronger of the two sides heading into the fixture that will take place at the Kalinga Stadium on Sunday, 17 December 2023.

Hyderabad FC head coach, Thangboi Singto, talked about wanting to win, working hard in training and more ahead of the game during the pre-match press conference. He was joined by Vignesh Dakshinamurthy in the interaction and here are the excerpts:

Need to progress

Hyderabad FC need help finding the next gear in their performances and feel stuck at the bottom of the league table. The tactician understands that the fans have been patient and the team is working in training to rise in the league positions.

He said, “To be coming from the match against NorthEast United FC with a hard-fought point gave us a little bit of a good feeling. Everyone is giving their best regarding what we want to do as a team and what we want to achieve going forward. Lingering in the last position is not at all what we want. The fans want us to progress.”

Praise for Odisha FC

Thangboi Singto acknowledged that Odisha FC are flying high under the expert watch of Sergio Lobera. On the prospect of facing an in-form team, he said, “Odisha FC have a very experienced coach who has won the ISL and has done well in Indian football. Their foreigners are very good and have experience in ISL. In terms of the Indians, they have players in every position who have been playing in the ISL for a long time.”

“For us, it will be a big challenge but our players want to play against the best players,” he added.

Vignesh Dakshinamurthy on the morale of the players

Hyderabad FC’s Vignesh Dakshinamurthy also took part in the press conference and gave an insight into what the players are feeling about the recent run of poor results. He asserted, “From the players’ point of view, we aren’t happy as the season is not going as per expectations. So, we see a new game as a new opportunity to get the first win of the season.”

“It’s a new team and new teammates. The system we play is different from my previous team. I am trying to adapt to it and getting to know the players,” the left-back further added. 

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