"We were terrific from the first whistle to last" – Owen Coyle lauds CFC performance in 3-1 win at Hyderabad

Hyderabad, January 10, 2020: Chennaiyin FC Head Coach Owen Coyle lauded his side’s performance and application in the 3-1 Hero Indian Super League win over Hyderabad FC at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium here on Friday.

Nerijus Valskis’ brace after Rafael Crivellaro’s opener proved the difference as CFC moved to 7th in the ISL standings, four points off the play-off places.

“Coming in, there was always a lot to be done and we know that. We were disappointed with our performance in the first half against Odisha so we had to come here tonight and win the game,” Coyle said in his post-match press briefing.

The win laid an unwanted record to rest, which saw CFC winless on the road since their 4-2 win over FC Pune City last season in November 2018.

“We had not won away from home since November 2018 and that is far too long for a club that is two-time champions of the league. We think we should have got the three points from Jamshedpur. We have three games from the next four at home and tonight we had to get those three points.”

Speaking specifically about his side’s performance, Coyle said, “We were terrific tonight from the first whistle to the last but were disappointed also on not being able to keep a clean sheet because we had good possession and that was avoidable.”

“Nerka could easily have had a hattrick. We scored three goals, we could have easily scored five or six and our football tonight was terrific and I think the others teams in the league will look at Chennaiyin and say they are a real force going forward. This gives us a realistic chance (of reaching the play-off stages),” Coyle added.

The former Bolton Wanderers manager reserved special praise for his Indian midfield duo of Anirudh Thapa and Germanpreet Singh, who have started each of Coyle’s five games in-charge so far.

“Some of the foreign players were very good today but my Indian lads were outstanding. We are probably the only team that starts with two young Indian players (Thapa and Germanpreet) in the midfield because we trust them, and their energy was outstanding tonight.”

After having gone without scoring in their first four games, CFC have scored ten goals in Coyle’s five games in charge so far. Moreover, they’ve scored three or more goals in three of those five games.

“When I came into the club, we were the lowest scorers in the league, 4 goals in 6 games and I think in my 5 games in charge we have scored 10 goals so we are showing that we are playing with an attacking intent and I want us to entertain and win games at the same time so what we have to do is try and find the balance, and we are getting closer.”