We have got a fitness check on Jerry, says Stuart Baxter

The Juggernauts' tactician is keen to build on the positives from the last game.

Odisha FC are yet to win their first game in the ongoing Indian Super League 2020/21 season. They come up against Mumbai City FC next, who have started to hit top gear. Stuart Baxter’s men narrowly lost their last game against ATK Mohun Bagan after conceding a last-minute goal which was deflating at the least.

Speaking ahead of the next fixture against a strong outfit in MCFC, he talked about the effects of the last defeat and what needs to be done ahead. Baxter said, “It's such a difficult one to take, you want to get back on the horse and make sure you are up for the next one. We didn’t think we got what we deserved, so we have to make sure we get what we deserve in the next game.”

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Stuart Baxter also responded when asked about his team’s middling display in the final third. He said, “The final third is about flank play, it's about finishing, it's about combination play and all of those things we have been working very, very hard.”

“But, our possession has not been of the best quality, so we have not got enough numbers up there in time. I think the possession has been better and if we get the amount of players forward that we need, we will start to also translate that into strikes on goal,” he further went on to add. 

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Stuart Baxter also gave an update on Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Marcelinho and reflected on OFC’s good track record against the Islanders. The tactician said, “We have got a fitness check on Jerry, so we are not 100% certain about that. As for Marcelinho, at the moment he is sore, but we don't know what that means. We won’t take chances with him, it is too long a season to be making those sort of do-or-die calls now.

“What happened before in the last year is not really relevant now, it's a different coach and a different team. There are different players, we also have different players, so it's a completely different fixture. History will not have any bearing on this game.” the 67-year-old further added. 

Further, commenting on the last defeat and what needs to be done to improve their performance, Baxter said, “If you look at the ATKMB game, we just needed a bit of luck. We played well enough, I think we did enough to get a good result, we should have got a 0-0 but we didn’t. We have got to translate those periods where we are better into strikes on goal and doing the things that win games of football.”

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Cole Alexander, one of their new recruits this term also spoke with the media ahead of the game. When asked about his experience of working with Stuart Baxter again, he said, “I am very happy to be united with my coach and learn so much. So, it was an easy decision for me to just come to a place that I don’t know because of the coach and his leadership. I am just looking forward to keep learning.”

Alexander has teamed up with Gaurav Bora at the heart of the midfield in the absence of Vinit Rai. Speaking on Bora’s performance, he said, “With each game he has gotten better, the whole team has gotten better from the very first game. With each game I think we are improving. Bora is a good defensive midfielder. There is always room for improvement for all of us and I think we are beginning to understand each other more and more with each training session. All of us can do better in decision-making and choices.”

The midfielder also spoke about taking  more responsibility, after having played for the South African national team. 

“It's not relevant that I have played for my national team, I have a bigger responsibility here. The person I am, the player I am, I wish to do my best wherever I go. As for having to compare, he said, “I don’t think the gap is far from players from South Africa or India. I think the local lads can learn from these players (foreigners), “ the 31-year-old expressed.

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The midfielder also shared his confidence levels ahead of a crucial game against MCFC. He said, “I feel very confident, actually. I think in the last game it was like my soul came out of my body, when they (ATKMB) scored. I don't think we deserved to lose that game. I truly believe, the next game we will do better. I am just feeling very positive for the next match.”

Stuart Baxter also talked about his gameplan against his next opponents, who have taken huge strides recently. He said, “They don’t lose the ball that often, so they don't get punished for being spread out. Obviously, we are thinking we don’t want to park the bus, but certainly we don’t want to go gung-ho and open ourselves up for their strengths. We want them to feel that if they stretch themselves, then we can put them on the backfoot very quickly and we can also cause a problem for them.”

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