ISL 2025-26: Owen Coyle feels excited to feature in "big game" in the Mecca of Indian football

Both teams eye top spot in ISL points table

It is never an ordinary affair to compete against a century-old football club with so much legacy and history in the stadium, which hosted some of the greatest footballing icons of the world. In matchweek 3 of the Indian Super League, East Bengal are set to host neighbors Jamshedpur FC in a thrilling encounter.

Both clubs are coming after winning the first two games. East Bengal FC went on to thrash SC Delhi and NorthEast United FC, scoring seven and conceding only once. The Red Miners, on the other hand, have got the better of Mohammedan SC and Punjab FC in their first two outings at home.

Ahead of the big game against East Bengal, Owen Coyle and captain Pronay Halder briefed the media about the team’s preparation and how they plan to neutralize the attacking threat from East Bengal strikers, who are in sublime form, clocking an average of 3.5 goals per game.

Coyle feels that margins are very fine this season

A closer look at the ISL points table indicates that JFC, despite winning both their first games are still positioned fourth due to an inferior goal difference. He feels that it is never easy to win any game in the ISL and that everyone likes winning by 3-4 goals, but it is more important to build a winning momentum rather.

He said, “It is very difficult to win any game in the ISL. You must look at the league table to understand how thin margins are in ISL. You can’t do anything more than win your games. I understand everyone likes winning with a difference of 3-4 goals, but that’s not possible.”

Speaking about the importance of winning games in a short season, Coyle said, “In a short season of 13 games, it’s of paramount importance that you pick up as many wins as possible. But you also must remember you are playing against opponents, and nobody allows you to come and just have chances all the time. We’re playing at an elite level, the highest level in India.”

Coyle confident of converting chances from set pieces

The former Burnley gaffer admitted that it becomes crucial to be clinical from set pieces. He feels that the team came very close to scoring from set pieces in the last two games but could have been more clinical in converting the chances into goals.

He said, “You want to score when you can from a set-piece, but you’ve got to understand you’re playing against opponents and playing against ghosts or shadows. You’re playing against teams that are going to try to defend very well. But within those set-pieces, we’ve come very close in both games.”

He added, “I think we want to continue to get better at set-plays and continue to create more chances. But I also think there’s as well been an awful lot of good things that have happened, and that’s what we’ll continue to do. We continue to be very positive and forward-looking”

Coyle praises Bruzon and Ferreira and feels it would be a tough game

Coyle feels that Miguel Ferreira is a geriatric striker and a top scorer. He feels that East Bengal have assembled a squad of youth and experience. He praised Bruzon and said that the Spanish gaffer is doing all in his capacity to return the old golden days for the Red and Gold Brigade.

He said, “When we travel to Kolkata to play against East Bengal FC, we must make sure we’re at our very best against a very good side. Oscar Bruzon is a good friend of mine. But he also knows, as I do, for the duration of the match, we’re doing everything in our power to win for our respective clubs. East Bengal, as we know, is a fantastic club. They have a very proud history and heritage. We know that they want to get back to that former glory.”

He added, “So we’re under no illusions about how difficult a game it will be. Many years ago, before my grey hair, when I was a player, I loved these types of games. That’s the arena that you want to play in. Because as a footballer, you want to play against the best teams and the best clubs.”

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