ISL 2021-22: We didn’t deserve to lose the game – Jamshedpur FC’s Owen Coyle

Jamshedpur FC head coach Owen Coyle believes they didn’t deserve to lose in the first leg of the semifinal against Kerala Blasters at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda on Friday. Jamshedpur, who won their maiden ISL Winners Shield title, was beaten by the Southerners by 1-0 to take the early advantage before the second leg of the semifinal.

Sahal Samad continued his good form for Yellow Army as he found the back of the net in the 38th minute of the game after he chipped the ball over the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC had 51% of the possession and they could only manage a solitary shot on the target whereas Kerala Blasters FC took four attempts at the goal.

Coyle was happy with the performance of the team in the first half but he feels the team could have done better defensively.

Owen Coyle said in the post-match presentation, “It gives Kerala Blasters the advantage for the second leg by one goal, but we could have been three goals up, the first half was some great play and we were terrific for that period. Then, a great finish for the kid who’s a very good player. But defensively, we think we could have done better in that instance. But that being said, they got the goal and then defended in the second half. We kept pushing on, bearing in mind we’re decimated by injuries. We were asked to have a quick turnaround in playing games.”

He added, “We’re also asked to come into Fatorda to play a home game when Bambolim is our home pitch and really we should not be playing away from home. You should ask the league why Jamshedpur is forced to play in the shortest turnaround and games. But that being said, it doesn’t stop our players. We went on with that, we showed great heart & spirit and real quality. I don’t think we played our best in the second half. But we were the team that was pushing on. It’s only half-time and we have shown that we know how to win games. And that’s what we’ll do. We’ll be ready for that second leg. We’ll see what players we have available. But we keep going with a smiling face. We are the best team in the country for a reason and we’ll be ready to show that in a second game.”

Coyle feels the team didn’t need any extra motivation for the semifinals and didn’t agree that the players were complacent in their approach after clinching the Winners League Shield title.

He added, “I don’t think you need any extra motivation in the semi-finals and the playoffs. But they also knew that they were playing a very good team. We played them four times, twice in the pre-season, and twice in the league, and Kerala Blasters FC has wonderful players. They have terrific players and have shown it all season. So we know it was always gonna be a very good game. That being said, if you were to analyse the game, then certainly we didn’t deserve to lose the game tonight. But we did, because of the margins in this game. We were switched off for one instance, and we weren’t clinical when we should have been. Had that been the case, we would be 2-3 goals good. So when you think back to what we’re doing in the first half and if we do that, it will result in us getting to the final. And that’s what we have to strive to do.”

Jamshedpur FC will now have to score against Kerala Blasters in the second leg to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the final. Coyle added that the team will adopt an aggressive approach in the second leg.

Coyle concluded, “The important thing is that we have to score. It’s as simple as that, we have to score in the second leg. And if we don’t, then we’ll get no chance to be in the final obviously. So we’ll be very positive in the game. Kerala Blasters FC then has to decide whether to go for the game and leave themselves open or do they sit and try and soak up as it did in the second half tonight and credit to them because they are dangerous on the counter. So I think it’s set up for a brilliant second leg. And we will make sure that we play a part in it and try to win it and try to get to the final.”

The second leg of the semifinal between Kerala Blasters FC and Jamshedpur FC will be played at the Athletic Stadium, Bambolim on Tuesday.