Chennaiyin FC boss Thomas Brdaric was very happy with his team’s spirit as they shared spoils with Odisha FC with a 2-2 draw at home. While their main objective was to win the last five matches and fight for a spot in the playoffs, they simply could not stop Odisha FC’s attack from scoring and both times they only managed to restore parity.
Diego Mauricio opened the scoring for the Kalinga Warriors before Chennaiyin FC skipper Anirudh Thapa restored parity for the home outfit. Odisha FC took the lead once again through young winger Isak Vanlalruatfela early on in the second half. However the lead was once again cancelled this time Abdenasser El Khayati scored the equalizer for the hosts as they managed to split a point from this feisty battle.
“We are a hard working team, and it hurts a bit. We try to be humble, and I am proud that the team came back with a fight on the pitch. We also created enough chances to be able to score the third goal,” Brdaric stated at the post match press conference.
The Marina Machans could only manage to extend their seven game winless run as they still sit five points adrift from the top six. But still Brdaric credited his team’s fighting spirit to come back and equalize twice in the game.
The Marina Machans have conceded 31 goals this season and Brdaric shares that his team must learn from their mistakes for the upcoming games. He demands more proactiveness from his team.
“We are a young team with young players who need to learn quickly how to make the decisions on the field. We are addressing that with the players, it is up to them how to execute it. We suffer due to individual mistakes, and it is too late before we come out of it. The way we concede the goals is a bit too simple, it is clear there are efforts, but they are not enough to take us into the top six,” he added.
Brdaric wants to look forward and with four games left, he is still hopeful to reach the playoff spot as he wants his team to fight and not complain. “It was a point from tonight, but at the end of the day, we have four games left to play, and I still have hope. We do not have the time to complain and accept the decision,” Brdaric concluded.
Chennaiyin FC will be travelling to Kerala to face the Blasters on 7th February as it more or less becomes a do or die game for the Marina Machans.
