We believe we can win Punjab game but we need to be good on the day, claims Owen Coyle

Owen Coyle’s Chennaiyin FC have a good opportunity to build momentum by beating a struggling Punjab FC outfit.

Chennaiyin FC travel to New Delhi for their next 2023-24 Indian Super League fixture which is set to take place on 18 December at the JLN Stadium in the capital city. They play against a Punjab FC side which is yet to taste how winning an ISL game feels. Owen Coyle, head coach of Chennaiyin FC, expects his team to improve and secure all three points in the upcoming contest.

The Marina Machans enter the fixture after a 2-0 win against Bengaluru FC last week. They have been unbeaten in the last four games but Coyle wants the team to turn draws into wins going forward. He spoke to the media, joined by Debjit Majumder, in the pre-match press conference where the duo took questions from media personnel and answered them diligently. 

Here are the excerpts:

Improving as a team

Owen Coyle talked about the resilience shown by Chennaiyin FC, lately justified by their four-match unbeaten streak. He said, “Things were always going to come together. The longer we worked together the better we were going to become…We are nowhere near where I want us to be but we are improving.”

“Our aim this season was always to reach the playoff positions so we will continue improving both individually and collectively,” he further added.

On the reverse fixture

Owen Coyle dismissed the idea that the previous 5-1 win over Punjab FC would have an impact on the upcoming game. “It was nice to get that victory however that counts for nothing in the upcoming game,” he stated in this regard.

“Punjab FC have shown that they are a very good side. They are a dangerous team. They are an organised side who also work very hard. We certainly believe that this is a game that we can win, but to win the game we need to be very good on the day,” the tactician mentioned.

Debjit Majumder on the importance of communication

Chennaiyin FC’s goalkeeper, Debjit Majumder credited the communication between him and the defensive line for the club’s good performances in recent games. “The coach has asked me to talk to the defence during the game since from my position I can see the whole team and the whole structure of our team. I can help to organise our defensive line by communicating from the back,” he opined.

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