ISL 2025-26: Clifford Miranda confident of turnaround against Odisha FC

Clifford Miranda is yet to register a win as Chennaiyin FC head coach.

Chennaiyin FC under Clifford Miranda are going through a rough patch of form as they have lost both their games so far, this 2025/26 ISL season. While the performance against Mumbai City FC looked decent, the Marina Machans were completely outplayed in their loss against Mohun Bagan SG.

If the 2025/26 AIFF Super Cup is taken into consideration, Clifford Miranda has managed five games for Chennaiyin FC and is yet to register a win. Aside from the results, the team has been disorganized and looked second-best in the most of these games.

A matchup with a comparatively inferior Odisha team would be the Goan coach’s best chance to get his first victory and turn things around since they are currently in the relegation zone.

Ahead of the trip to Odisha, Chennaiyin FC head coach Clifford Miranda and Farukh Choudhary spoke with the media. Here’s what they had to say about Odisha FC, their performances thus far, preferred positions, and other topics.

Clifford Miranda on Chennaiyin’s current form

“Whenever you lose it is never a good feeling, especially after such a long while when the league has started. But this is the nature of the game, sometimes things don’t go as planned and sometimes things are in the process of going according to the plan. We are somewhere in the middle where things are in the process for us to go according to our plan. Things also haven’t helped us; luck hasn’t helped us as well against Mumbai. That was not a match to be lost, but, in the end, the result was that we lost 1-0.”

“About the players, I think it’s normal for the players to be upset and I’m happy that they are upset after the losses. Because if the players were content in the way how we played and if they were happy with the outcome, that would upset me. I’m happy that we are upset that we can start afresh in the next game against Odisha”, insisted Clifford Miranda

Clifford Miranda on importance of winning games:

Chennaiyin FC were compelled to play all four games away from home. The squad will be coming back to Chennai with little confidence if they lose the remaining two games as well. Miranda discussed how important it is to experience the thrill of victory in order to increase confidence.

“It’s always positive when you start winning. Because what happens is you get a good feeling about yourself and the work that has been done. It also sets a good tempo, good positive vibes in the team. And you get the feeling that you’re on the right track. But I can tell you, even with these defeats, I still feel and I feel and my players feel that we are on the right track.”

“Winning is important because that gives you the confidence, that lifts up your confidence to look forward towards the next thing. Hopefully we get it and we start winning and that can set us up in a good, positive way to go into the next match and eventually into the break. And then we come back and have the same momentum going when we start playing our home games at the JLN stadium in Chennai”, stated Clifford Miranda.

Clifford Miranda on opponents Odisha FC

“The determination, the great resilience shown by these players are really remarkable and something to watch out for. I have my highest of respects for them and their coach for playing the way they have played against Kashi, in a very, very positive way. It’s going to be a very, very difficult game. If my team doesn’t match up to their determination, to their grit, to their intensity, we can be in trouble. It is very, very important that more than football, that we meet up to their ambition and meet up to their intensity”, added Clifford Miranda

Read More: Chennaiyin FC aim for turnaround against Odisha FC

Clifford Miranda on returning to Odisha:

Clifford Miranda’s first opportunity to be a head coach came when he was named coach of Odisha FC’s team for the 2023 Super Cup in Kerala. Miranda returned the trust by guiding the team to victory and bringing home the team’s first-ever trophy. Miranda talked about his experience in Odisha.

“I was fortunate to have worked there and helped them to win a title. It was also very, very good for me. I have some very good memories from there with very few of the players still existing there from my time. I still have a good, a kind and a very special affection for the club because it is the first club that gave me that opportunity to be a head coach. And I will always remember that”, commented Clifford Miranda.

Clifford Miranda on adopting to new style of play

“It’s never easy when you have the same group of players but a different style of play (compared to Owen Coyle last season). It is because it comes naturally when you have a different coach with a different style of play and a different mentality. That takes time. Right now, for us, we have almost the same group of players that were last year. But under a different philosophy and a different methodology. So, it always takes time for the players to grasp. But right now, like I said, we are in the process of it.”, added Clifford Miranda

Clifford Miranda on adapting a two-striker formation:

During the season’s first two ISL games, Inigo Martin has seemed alone and lonely in front of the goal. When asked if playing another striker alongside him would benefit the Spanish striker, Clifford Miranda stated that altering the formation for a specific player does not sit well with him. He went on to explain why Inigo was left isolated.

“Inigo was isolated because we were playing a little behind the ball. Because sometimes the wingers were not in the pocket. Sometimes the 10 was not in the pocket. And sometimes he too was coming short. To have two strikers doesn’t solve the attacking issues that we have or doesn’t solve the isolation. If we don’t have enough players in the pocket, it could be that the two strikers are isolated at the front from away from the rest of the team.  It was also that he was in positions when we were already defending that he was away from the team.”

“I don’t believe football works like that where you bring in someone to get away isolation. We can say that we didn’t have the offensive players in the right places. To change the way, I don’t think is the right solution. Yes, you can change ways. You can get in two strikers for according to how we assess the opponent or how the opponent plays. But to change the way, for reasons that someone’s isolated, I don’t think it is rhetoric”, insisted Clifford Miranda

Clifford Miranda on Farukh Chaudhary

“Farukh, for me, is like one of the best Indian players that we have around. He’s a fantastic number 10 and also a fantastic winger who can play in the pocket. One of the very few Indian players, and I would say that includes foreign as well, with some technical ability and a very, very good tactical sense of the game. He’s one of the best that we have in India in terms of pure ability on his day. He can be a top player.”

“Farukh is someone who is so talented that he can turn the game on his day. Only thing is that he needs to believe in himself. He needs to believe that he can do it because he’s already got it. Compared with offensive spell players that exist in India at the moment, I would say he is one of the best. He’s also got great work rate”, applauded Miranda.

Farukh Choudhary on his role for the season ahead

Farukh is well-known in the Indian football circuit for his ability to play different roles in attack and midfield. Farukh has played left wing, right wing, center forward, backup striker, and other positions under Owen Coyle. When asked about his role under Clifford, Farukh stated he had been training as a left winger.

“For now, I’ve been playing as a left winger. Last game, I played like around 30-40 minutes as a left winger. I’ve been training in that position as well. But coach very well knows that I can move around, can play in different positions. So, I think he’s thinking that maybe the best position where I can be very effective or be more impactful is on the left wing for now. I’m trying to make the best use of it.”, answered Farukh.

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