“We want to get the balance right and play high intensity football” – Chennaiyin FC gaffer Owen Coyle ready for home debut

Chennai, December 19, 2019: Chennaiyin FC return to the Marina Arena in what will be new Head Coach Owen Coyle’s home debut against southern rivals Kerala Blasters FC on Friday. Having overseen a 1-1 draw against Jamshedpur FC in his first game on the touchline, followed by a postponed fixture against NorthEast United due to unforeseen circumstances, Coyle is raring to go for his side to take to the pitch again.

And with fans from both sides expected to be in full voice, Coyle expects an attacking encounter from the word go. “The first home game for me is exciting; against a very good side in Kerala Blasters. In terms of preparation the players have worked very hard, their attitude in training, their qualities and understanding of what they’ll be asked to play has been brilliant. We have quality and we have to show that.” 

“Kerala Blasters are a very good side, with some good players. They look as though they have a fully fit squad with important players coming back. We are respectful of them, but we do not fear anyone. If we play to our best, we can win the game.”

Goalscoring has been an area of concern for CFC, having scored just five goals so far this season with Lithuanian striker Nerijus Valskis bagging four of them to his credit. Coyle was quick to point out that his side needs to address that aspect of their game. “We need to recognize as a football club that we have not scored enough goals. Nerijus (Valskis) has been in form but we need to score more and create more opportunities. He has shown he is an amazing striker and we have other players also who can score goals,” the former Burnley manager said.

Coyle repeatedly stressed on the importance of the team to function as a unit, a strong group. Furthermore, he called upon everyone associated with the club to rally behind the squad, saying “Our strength will be as a group, we have to bring everyone together, everybody in the football club, from the owners, to the fans, the players and the staff and when we do this history shows that this football club can achieve marvelous things.”

December 20 marks the four-year anniversary of the club bagging their first Hero ISL title, winning it in stoppage time through a 3-2 scoreline against FC Goa in 2015. Coyle and Co. will be hoping to give the fans another reason to celebrate with a win, that too against rivals KBFC.

Coyle reserved special praise for the club’s Indian contingent, especially Lallianzuala Chhangte, Edwin Vanspaul and Thoi Singh. “We have a lot of fantastic players, as you know Nerijus (Valskis) and other fantastic foreign players but we also have some very good Indian players and if we can keep improving them, Chhangte for example if we can improve him a 10-20% he would be an absolute star in the league. So there are players, Edwin (Vanspaul) and Thoi (Singh) have performed very well.”

The new gaffer was not overly concerned about the limited time he has had with the squad so far. “What happened before counts for nothing, only thing that we can affect is what is to come moving forward and that is why we have to get ready for all those challenges. We know they have written us off, but we can challenge and if you have a group that is honest and willing to do everything for the club, fantastic things can happen in football,” Coyle stated.

Lastly, Coyle had a lot of adulation for the club’s ardent supporters. Looking forward to the welcome for himself and the side in what will be a big game especially for the fans, he said, “We have a fantastic fanbase, they come and support our team. They are colourful and vocal and create a fantastic atmosphere. We have an obligation on the field to deliver that winning product. We want our team to play very high intensity. What we have to do is to get the balance right between defence and attack. We have very good attacking pieces but what we have to do is to share the responsibility.”