Jamshedpur FC would like to do an encore when they clash with Northeast United FC in an Hero Indian Super League 2021-22 tie at PJN Stadium in Fatorda, in Goa on Friday evening.
The Men of Steel steamrolled Chennaiyin FC 4-1 in the last outing and similar show against the Highlanders should be least surprising. Head coach Owen Coyle would surely like to win the match and grab 3 points.
On the team’s approach for the upcoming game, Owen said, "We have to approach each game like we always do and focus on one game at a time. We’ve a lot left to do even though we’ve done really well until this point, but that accounts to nothing. What we have to do moving forward, starting from going against a very good opponent like Northeast United, is to try to win the game and collect those valuable points which will be our aim on a game-to-game basis."
He added that Northeast United are a very good team and he thinks they are being held back by major injuries and players missing from their squad this season. "Northeast United coach Khalid Jamil is not able to have the player continuity but when they look back to throw their strength at you, we saw their quality the other night when they came back after conceding against a very good Bengaluru side. Deshorn scored a wonderful header and then they went to win the game. So, we know they are dangerous opponents with a very good coach. We will be very respectful of the opponents but we also know that when we are at our very best, we can win these tough games and that’s what we have to do. We have to stay focused, concentrated and be at our very best."
On the club’s qualifying chances being a big motivating factor against direct rivals in the upcoming games, the Scotland-born Owen said," It’s always nice to hear when people say that we have attained the most wins, scored the most goals, picked up the most points but the truth is, it doesn't count for anything until you get something tangible and that is the mission for Jamshedpur FC this season as we have never been in the playoffs to fight out for the trophy. So we want to try and take away enough points to do that. The only way to do that is by playing well and winning games as every game is a tough one even though people say we are playing our direct opponents."
And he added, "Every game is so tough in the Hero ISL and that’s why we must be focused and concentrated as I have said before. If we are, then we can win and pick up points which is what we need to do. But first and foremost, we have some hard work to do ahead of us. Even though we are in a nice position, that is all there is. We have to go and pick up those points to seal our place in the top 4 and from there, we will aim to push forward higher up the league as we possibly can, but we have to get the points first."
Owen is concerned with injuries to Boris Singh and Jitendra Singh and said Jamshedpur will be decimated by the number of injuries in their NorthEast United game and he doesn’t think there’s any doubt about that.
"We already have Farukh Choudhary missing the whole season and then Komal Thatal who has missed the majority of the season. Komal is such a young and exciting player for us. I would be very surprised if Boris and Jitendra are available for Friday’s game. Boris might be back sooner than Jitendra but it won’t be today or tomorrow, that’s for sure. So, those are huge blows to miss those players with Jordan Murray also not up to speed yet and he is not 100% match fit yet but he’s getting better with each day," Owen added.
