“We have found a way to play to our strengths” – Gaffer Owen Coyle after dominant NEUFC win

Chennai, January 16, 2020: Chennaiyin FC cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over NorthEast United FC in the Hero Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday. Head Coach Owen Coyle was in a buoyant mood in his post-match press conference after his side had put in a masterful display that could’ve easily seen them score more than the two goals they scored.

A Rafael Crivellaro wondergoal from all of 55 yards out that caught the keeper off the line followed by another screamer from Nerijus Valskis gave CFC all three points and took them to sixth spot with 15 points.

Particularly praising the attacking output, Coyle said, “We had 21 attempts on goal, 13 on target against a very good side. We scored two outstanding goals through Rafael and Nerka. We could easily have had six or seven goals through some easy chances.”

The win meant back-to-back wins for the first time since March 2018 in the ISL. On breaking another hoodoo, he said, “We hadn’t won back-to-back games in a long time. All I came in and did was assessed what we had and found a way to play to our strengths. We are trying to improve and all credit is due to the players. You can impart the knowledge and experience but it is the players who have to deliver.”

Speaking about Edwin Vanspaul’s and Laldinliana Renthlei’s performances in particular, he said, “Edwin was amazing in midfield tonight. With Germanpreet (Singh) unavailable, Dinliana coming in at right-back, the latter showed with his performance that he wants to stay in the team. He took up the opportunity and for the football club it was a great night.”

Rafael’s second-half strike lit up the Marina Arena, including Coyle himself. “Rafa is very aware of the opposition. That goal in any league of the world is just outstanding, it definitely has lifted his spirit and he is a wonderful player. We are an attack-minded side and in terms of how we play and pass, Rafa is a huge part of it. We have so many talented individuals but our strength will always be as a group and that is what we need to do going forward.”

CFC have been resurgent under Coyle, scoring 12 goals in his six games in-charge as well. The attacking players have been firing on all cylinders with the defence also improving with every passing game. “We want to be in the top four and to do that we have to keep winning consistently. When I came in, we had to play catch up and we have almost doubled the points we had in the first six games. We have shown that we can also go away from home and win points.”

Coyle was full of praise for the shift put in by every member of the squad and is hopeful of an encore against Jamshedpur FC a week later at home on Thursday January 23, 2020.