Ahead of Inter Kashi clash, Chennaiyin FC head coach Clifford Miranda hails Antonio Habas as an ISL great

Chennaiyin FC takes on Inter Kashi FC in a must win clash

Chennaiyin FC and Inter Kashi will lock horns for the first time in the Indian Super League (ISL) as both clubs are hungry to rise up the standings. Both teams have had a mixed season so far and a win on Tuesday will help them set up their respective seasons.

Seeking their first home win, Clifford Miranda addressed the press conference ahead of the game against Inter Kashi FC.

Here is what the Chennaiyin FC head coach said:

What did Clifford Miranda say about Antonio Habas?

Antonio Habas is a legendary name in the Indian football fraternity. The Spaniard has led ATK to two ISL Cups and has also won the ISL Shield with Mohun Bagan.

Habas joined Inter Kashi in 2024 and led the club to the I-League title last season. Clifford Miranda is no stranger to the Spaniard, as he has played and coached under him before.

Speaking about the Inter Kashi coach, Miranda said, “I worked with him as a player, when I was playing for ATK, and now, last two years back, for a brief period, when he came over to Mohun Bagan, we worked for 3 or 4 months. I know how he works, he has this sage mentality, he will prepare his team in a very direct way, very direct, very aggressive way, normally that’s his way, but it will be even more, because they have lost points and they have lost matches.”

“He will try to turn it in their favor, he will try to improve his team, he will try to encourage his team and motivate his team to come out. I know it’s their way, and it’s his mentality. Inter Kashi plays the football that is the most effective for them, and that is direct, strong, aggressive, and that’s exactly what they will be, so we need to be really, really focused from minute one until the final whistle.”

Clifford Miranda praises Maheson Singh

Chennaiyin FC’s manager made a very bold statement before the game against Inter Kashi as he named the 21-year-old Maheson Singh Tongbram as one of the best attacking midfielders in India.

The player joined CFC under Owen Coyle in January 2025 and has since become a regular under Clifford Miranda.

The CFC head coach said, “I think Maheson is the best Indian number 10 at the moment, in my opinion, and he will only get better. The way he reads the game, he is very good in between pockets; he is very, very good in his defensive work as well. I didn’t know him before, and it was the first time I saw him in Goa, when we started pre-season. I thought I saw enough of him to conclude that he is possibly one of the best number 10s, if not the best number 10 in the country, but he still has a long way to go.”

“Maheson has a lot to do; he needs to improve some things in his game. We keep talking to him in terms of certain aspects, and of course, he needs to score. He needs to score, and what’s more important is that, if you go to see, almost all the other clubs in that position, are foreign nominees, this is the only club here that we have, we have him, so it’s big for him, I think it’s a very big responsibility, which he has, which he has taken with great admiration, and is being very responsible.”

“So he needs to, yes, work hard, he needs to keep going, he needs to keep learning, and he needs to keep learning from the coaches, from the players around him, who can guide him, and I can tell you, if he keeps doing this, you will see him possibly doing really well and playing in the national team.”

Injury updates

When asked if there were any injury concerns in the squad.

Clifford Miranda said, “We have everyone aside from Chima Chukwu, who is a concern. He is still recovering from when he limped off in the last game. Let’s see, we have until tomorrow to see, but we have more or less everyone available.

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