Owen Coyle asserts win against Bengaluru FC mandatory to keep Jamshedpur FC 's ISL 2025-26 title hopes alive

A win against BFC can take Red Miners to the top of the ISL points table.

The JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur gears up to host the Matchweek 12 fixtures of the Indian Super League, with home team Jamshedpur FC set to lock horns with Bengaluru FC in the Steel Derby.

Jamshedpur FC are back in the title race after two consecutive wins over Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa. They are now joint top of the table alongside East Bengal FC. The Red Miners have scored six goals in the last two games and conceded only one, and have kept one clean sheet against FC Goa.

The Blues, on the other hand, are coming after three back-to-back draws over East Bengal, Odisha FC and Mumbai City FC. Bengaluru FC have an excellent track record away from home and will be keen to maintain their unbeaten record away from home in the upcoming game at the Furnace.

Ahead of the big game against Bengaluru FC at the Furnace, Jamshedpur FC head coach Owen Coyle and defender Pratik Chaudhari briefed the media about the team’s preparations against Bengaluru FC.

Coyle on back-to-back wins at Furnace

Jamshedpur FC are coming after two back-to-back wins at the Furnace. Owen Coyle’s side went on to register a big 4-1 win over his former side Chennaiyin FC before thrashing FC Goa 2-0 in the previous game. The two wins have heavily boosted Jamshedpur’s title hopes as they sit atop the ISL points table.

Owen Coyle said, “I think it was important that we continue to show a good level of performance and look to win the games that are available to us. We did that with an outstanding performance at home against Chennai and Goa. We well deserved them. We were the better team against FC Goa.”

He added, “What we want to do is continue that momentum, and that means another tough game against Bengaluru. But it’s one we’re looking forward to. It’s an opportunity. “We want to finish the season as strongly as possible. And that means winning first and foremost against Bengaluru, and then Odisha will take care of itself.”

He added, “Ultimately, to obtain those 27 points that are available to us and then see what others must do. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but if you’re able to do that, it forces others to go and win their games. They’re all playing each other, so there are certainly going to be twists and turns. But we want to concentrate on what we can control. And what we control is two big performances, looking to win two tough games and see where that takes us. So, yeah, it’s an exciting time.”

Coyle on Jamshedpur’s willingness to host other clubs

Out of thirteen games in the season, Jamshedpur FC will be playing nine games at home. Amidst uncertain times, many stadiums were unavailable to host games, but the Furnace has hosted the majority of games. He reflected on how Jamshedpur helped Inter Kashi and Mohammedan to come and play here in the absence of their home grounds.

He said, “We’ve helped teams out as well because of the facilities we have. When Inter Kashi couldn’t play at home, we allowed them to come and play here, the same for Mohammedan. We’ve always been a club that looks to help others, as much as we want to win games and be successful.

“At the end of 13 games, when everybody has played 13 games, the team with the most points will have deservedly won the league. I don’t think there’s any argument to that. It’s not ideal. We’d all like to be playing the same number of games, but it’s been a strange season because of the circumstances.”

“When there was a grey area, there was no doubt Jamshedpur would be here in the league. This club has always been a standard bearer in terms of trying to do the right things — how we conduct ourselves, how we look after ourselves. That’s what we continue to do.”

Coyle wants young players like Puia to become an asset for national team

The former Burnley and Blackburn Rovers gaffer heaped praises on Puia and young talents like Rosenberg Gabriel, who have massively impressed in the last few games. He feels that these players have a very bright future, and honing their skills and giving them regular game time is important.

“If I can impart some knowledge and wisdom, as Pratik does too, for example, with Puia, when I see a young player like that, I get excited because I’m a football lover and I want to see young talent, particularly Indian talent.”

“I say that as a foreigner in the country, because when I come in, it’s not just a job. We’re invested. We want to help those Indian players develop and go on to good careers. That’s why Pratik Chaudhari, Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh are great examples. They never did it for three or four years. They’ve done it consistently for 15 years. That’s the mark of a real top professional.”

Pratik on importance of communication with Albino

Pratik Chaudhari will be up against his former side, Bengaluru FC, and will be looking forward to getting another clean sheet. In the absence of Eze, he paired up with Lazar Cirkovic and conceded just two goals in the last three games and also kept a clean sheet in the last game.

He said, “It starts from Albino. He’s the one who starts communicating from behind, and then me, Nizar or Eze, whoever is playing, we all try and help the ones in front of us, maybe our wingbacks, the wingers or the midfielders. It’s our job to communicate. It’s not just about playing football. It’s equally important to communicate well and make sure that communication is helping them.”

“We do it in training, and that’s the reason it happens in games. Even the front players communicate with us and help us out. From the dugout, the coach keeps giving instructions. It’s a mechanism where everyone is helping each other for 90-95 minutes to achieve that one goal: to win the game.”

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