'They are improving day by day' - Clifford Miranda wary of performance ahead of Kerala Blasters clash in ISL 2026-27

Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters FC share a strong rivalry since ISL 2014

Chennaiyin FC, who have scored just one goal in their opening three games of the 2026-27 ISL season and have only one point to their name, find themselves in the same position as they were after three games in the 2025-26 season.

They started the campaign with a decent 1-1 draw against FC Goa but failed to build on that result, suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bengaluru FC in their second game. While their performance improved against Mohun Bagan SG in the third game, they had nothing to show for it in the points table, eventually losing 1-0 and dropping all three points.

Currently 11th in the ISL standings, Clifford Miranda and his men could not have asked for a better time to return home. They will be back at the Marina Arena for their first home game of the season against Kerala Blasters FC.

Here’s what Chennaiyin FC head coach Clifford Miranda and French midfielder Madih Talal had to say ahead of the game against the Blasters.

Clifford Miranda on Kerala Blasters

Speaking about their opponents, Kerala Blasters FC, Chennaiyin’s head coach Clifford Miranda maintained that they remain one of the best teams in the league. He also discussed the impact Ashley Westwood has had since taking charge of the Blasters, their results so far this season, and how he believes the team improves with every passing game.

“Good team, balanced team with a good coach who has experience in India. Also has experience coaching international teams. He did very well last year when he came on and guided them to six victories and got them out of the relegation zone. And this year itself, even though they may not have had a long pre-season, they are improving day by day, match by match.”

“And they won their first game. Unlucky to have lost the second game because it was away, and playing in the North East is never easy. And then they drew the last game with a monstrous crowd there. It’s something that we envy. They controlled Mumbai well.”

“They are organised and strong defensively. And just like us, they are having a bit of difficulty in the final third. But again, with the coach who has been working on them since last season, with more or less the same sort of Indian players and the same ideology, I think they are still a very, very strong team, like any team in the league.”, commented Clifford Miranda

Clifford Miranda on difference in his approach to home and away games

After a difficult run of three consecutive away games, Chennaiyin FC return home for a run of three successive fixtures at the Marina Arena, with two scheduled before the international break and one after it.

When asked whether he would adapt his style of play now that the team was returning home, Clifford Miranda insisted that their approach would remain the same regardless of where they play.

“To play good football, to play in an organised way, to play the way we always train. Nothing changes for us in the way we play. We play in the same way whether it’s home or away. Yes, away with a slight bit of caution, but it’s the same. And the most important thing is to win the football game, to win the football match, that’s it.”, added Clifford Miranda

Clifford Miranda on goalscoring woes

A topic that has featured in almost every press conference since Clifford Miranda took charge, Chennaiyin’s goalscoring struggles were once again brought up. The head coach maintained that he has been happy with the chances his side is creating and the movement they are showing in the final third.

“In terms of attacking dynamics, I think we are better than we were last season. And we are creating a lot of chances. Our final entries are very good; the pattern, even though, to the naked eye, it could be similar. Last year also we were not scoring goals. But the fact is that we have more control compared to last season. Our movement is very dynamic. We know exactly what we are doing compared to last season. In terms of we are dominating games in the final third unlike last season.”

“The issue was that we didn’t get into the final third; we didn’t create chances because we didn’t have enough players. But day by day, we are getting there. But to play in a particular way where we know exactly the movements, the different movements, it takes a bit of time. As I said, scoring is the most difficult thing. But like you and the players as well, I am thinking in the same way: we must start scoring. Because there is no excuse, it is very, very important to score. Because that is what wins you football matches.”, insisted Clifford Miranda.

Madih Talal on Kerala Blasters’ pre-season

Madih Talal, who featured alongside Miranda at the press conference, was asked whether Kerala Blasters’ lack of a proper pre-season would give Chennaiyin an advantage heading into the Southern Derby. Talal maintained that his side were focused only on themselves and emphasised the need to start winning games.

“We are not thinking about what the opponent is doing, whether they do pre-season or not. They are just working on us. We had a long-time pre-season; it was not easy also for us. We work hard; it will take time, but we want the three points tomorrow because it’s the first home game. So, we are improving game by game. So now it’s time to take points.”, stated Madih Talal.

Clifford Miranda on Madih Talal

“I think we have the best number 10 in the division right now with us, by a distance. I don’t know who the next one is. But for me, I think he is the best in terms of the players. He has got good history when he played for Punjab and then unfortunately got injured when he was at East Bengal. But he did very well until the point that he got injured. And then he did very well last season as well with Jamshedpur.”, praised Clifford Miranda

Madih Talal on solving the team’s goalscoring woes

As the team’s primary creative force, Talal was also asked about Chennaiyin’s persistent goalscoring issues and how much responsibility he felt rested on his shoulders to address them. He insisted that the important thing was to keep working hard rather than dwelling on goals, which might come in one game but not another.

“I am the playmaker of the team. So, I am trying to help them as much as I can. I need to take more responsibility in this final third, I would say. Some days you will maybe score three goals, five goals. Some days you don’t score. Then one day they will say, “oh” Oh, you didn’t score.”

“Then the next day they will say you are the best. So, we just have to continue to work like that and stay focused, and that’s it.”, insisted Madih Talal.

Clifford Miranda on his footballing philosophy at Chennaiyin FC:

Ever since Clifford Miranda took over as Chennaiyin FC’s head coach, there has been a clear strategy and philosophy behind the way he wants his team to play. As he has reiterated on several occasions, he wanted to implement a progressive, possession-based style of football from day one, although it was not clearly visible last season.

However, this season, particularly in the game against Mohun Bagan SG, we got a glimpse of that approach. Miranda insisted that he is only as good as the players he has at his disposal and credited them with enabling him to implement his style of play this season.

“There is a game model that I wanted to implement. It is the way I want my teams to play. It is to dominate with the ball and be aggressive without the ball. Honestly, I am only as good as the players that I have. If I don’t have a certain kind of player to play a certain kind of football, I cannot play that kind of football. And I can implement this this year because of the players that I have with me.”

“It is simple; there is no rocket science there. And if you can see this thing happening, it is because we work a lot in training and we work a lot in detail. And the players are accepting the way the team should play and have been convinced that it is the way we should go forward.”, said Clifford Miranda

Clifford Miranda’s message to Chennaiyin fans

Fans are the backbone of any football team. For a side struggling to win games and score goals, their support becomes even more important. It is crucial for the fans to rally behind the team and stand by them during difficult times.

With so much at stake and plenty of emotions expected between the two sets of supporters, Clifford Miranda urged Chennaiyin fans to turn up in numbers, get behind the team and hopefully outnumber the Kerala Blasters supporters in the stands.

“When we went to Goa, they had quite a few fans. The stadium was not packed but they had quite a few fans. When we went to Bengaluru, a lot of fans, you know. And when we went to Mohun Bagan, the same thing. I want the fans of Chennaiyin FC and the people from Chennai to come and support us. Because for sure one thing is given: whatever the travelling fans from Kerala will be, they will be loud because they travel everywhere.”

“So, it’s what I want, and my team wants the fans of Chennai to outnumber them in a ratio of 1 to 10. To outnumber the Kerala fans by 20 times or maybe 100 times. Imagine we train with no noise, and we play a game with a lot of noise, with your fans backing you. It’s an added boost for the players, for everyone else around and for the game as well. So, we want the fans; we want the fans in huge numbers. Come support us.”, requested Clifford Miranda

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