Kino Sanchez expect tough fight, Sabir Pasha confident of result

Odisha FC take on Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League on Wednesday.

With their hopes for a playoffs berth hanging by a thread, it will be a virtual do-or-die affair for Chennaiyin FC and FC Odisha FC when they meet in a crunch Indian Super League encounter at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Wednesday.

Odisha are placed seventh in the points table, having 21 in their bag from 16 games. Chennaiyin are a rung below them at eighth place with 19 points from 16 matches. A playoffs spot is an uphill task for both teams with only four games remaining but anything short of a win on Wednesday will make this virtually impossible. Head coaches Kino Sanchez and Sabir Pasha expressed their thought before the game in a pre-match press conference.

Odisha FC Head Coach Kino Sanchez

Short Turnaround

Kino Sanchez: It's not fair from the competition point of view that some teams are getting five-six days while some teams are getting just two. Anyways, we are here to compete. We have enough players and maybe we will make some changes in the starting XI to use some fresh legs. Our training was focused on recovering and taking set-pieces.

Conceding Goals

Kino Sanchez: It's not about difference, It's about teamwork. As a whole team, we have to focus on some aspects. The defence cannot always be blamed. We did not concede against NorthEast, ATK; of course, four goals is a lot but I can say we are improving.

Thoughts on tomorrow's game

Kino Sanchez: It's going to be a tough one as both teams are going to fight. They have changed their coach, so we expect some changes in the lineup. When a new coach arrives the mode also changes. So, we have to face that situation too.

Chennaiyin FC head coach Sabir Pasha

Preparations against Odisha FC

Sabir Pasha: We have to be strong, they are a very good attacking side. They have some good players to do the damage. So I think if you can stop that, I think we'll be fine. We can come out with the result. But the only problem is that we have to be strong in our defence, in the midfield as well as in our defensive third.

What can we expect from your side? What will your philosophy be?

Sabir Pasha: It's a very short time to put all your philosophies inside. So I think we have to be sensible at this point in time. Like you when you change things, we have to think about many things, what is the status of the players, how they are in, what state they're in. Keeping that in mind it's a challenge.

According to that, we have to mould and that is the quality of the coach, what we have to do. And that is the challenge for the coach. And I think what we are trying to do is try to get the best out of the players rather than fixing our philosophies and other things. Once I think our players do their maximum and come to their best, then we will be a strong side.

If 3-5-2 is a suitable formation for Chennaiyin FC

Sabir Pasha: Normally as you see all the best coaches say once the ball rolls on the field then everything changes according to the ball. Like even if you put the formation then you have to adjust to that. But it depends upon the confidence of the coach, what he feels right for the team, like it differs from coach to coach, what they think and their confidence. It is difficult to change the confidence of the coach. So in that way, I think 3-5-2 went well. Sometimes it didn't work.

How he motivates players

Sabir Pasha: You're right, you're practical. Also, the thing is like it's a difficult scenario, it's not an impossible scenario. But the first thing is like as you come to know the confidence of the players have to come on the field, their natural ability should come on the field. That will be the first challenge.

That was the first task which I have to set right. Once I do that that everything will fall and that that is where I think we have to concentrate and we have to get the best out of the players whatever they have. If you don't get the best, I think everybody will suffer.

Expectations from young Indian players

Sabir Pasha: Every player has been giving their best. I think we are happy with the players but they have been trying their best, that they are giving their everything on the field. Even whether it is 5-3-2 or 4-4-1-1 or whatever it is like when we played I think I don't have any complaints with the players. They have been giving their best. So we expect the same thing with the players in the coming matches and we hope they do their best.

If CFC can reach semi-final

Sabir Pasha: There is not much difference when you compare the quality of the players, when it comes to the other teams. I think I've been telling them also, like there is no big difference, there is a difference but not big. So I think we also have a talented site.

We also have talented players. It is how you bring out the talent and how you make them comfortable on the field where they would like to do their best and that is more important. And sometimes I think we have played some players in their uncomfortable zone where they didn't feel well and that has backfired at us sometimes but I think if we can set this right, I think the talent wise we are not short.

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