Csaba Laszlo admits Chennaiyin FC lost a leader in Rafael Crivellaro

The coach vowed to correct his side's wrongs in the second half of the season.

Ahead of his side's return clash in the Indian Super League against Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC head coach Csaba Laszlo spoke about their chances and their aspirations for the game against the same opposition they played on Sunday.

Persistent problem of goalscoring

That game ended in a goalless stalemate meaning that the coach and his men have another chance at gaining three points against a resolute Odisha side. Going into the second half of the season, Chennaiyin have scored eight goals in 10 games – the lowest among all the ISL teams. Speaking about his side's struggles, the Romanian said, "If you saw yesterday's match (ATK Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC), it was between the two teams against whom we played our best football."

"It shows that we have to play every team the same way in the league. Our biggest problem is scoring goals. We create a lot of chances, but somehow we aren't scoring enough goals. It is a big problem, we are organized in the defence, but I honestly wish we score the chances that we create."

Csaba Laszlo further added, "Every team can improve and we are improving as well. After some draws, where I feel my team was better, I hope we get a bit more luck to win the games. The style my team is playing is the way I want them to play. Our captain is out, so we have had to reorganize a bit. We have to be completely different in terms of our shape."

Arrival of Lanzarote

Chennaiyin FC signed Manuel Lanzarote as a replacement for their captain Rafael Crivellaro, who will miss the rest of the ISL season. Speaking on the arrival of the Spaniard, Csaba Laszlo informed, "He will play very soon. We have to resolve some visa issues and then he has to go through the quarantine."

"But, we are very confident that he will arrive soon and within a few weeks he will play. It wasn't easy to replace Rafa. In Rafa, we lost not just a player but a leader, a voice in the dressing room. We were looking for the best solution, we were looking for someone who knows the league. It is a decision we all took together and I am happy that we have got this player."

Consistency required

Despite their downfall in form and consistency, Chennaiyin would take heart from the fact that they are only four points off the last playoffs spots. When asked about the standings, the tactician replied, "Humans are creatures of logic and emotion. Yes, it is important that we must take a look at the standings and we have our targets."

"But, I've always focused on the chemistry of the team. The players have to know that they have to fight back. The table is still tight and 1-2 victories can immediately change your position. We still have a chance, but you have to use the chance. Every point counts and we want to achieve our target, which is to collect points through victories," Csaba Laszlo concluded.