ISL 2024-25: Owen Coyle reveals game plan after win against Punjab FC

Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle has opened up on his tactics after a 2-1 win against Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai in the ongoing Indian Super League 2024-25 on Saturday.

Wilmar Jordan Gil scored from a spot kick in the 19th minute to put the hosts in front. However, the Shers equalized as their captain Luka Majcen scored three minutes after the half-time break. 

Marina Machans was able to bag all three points after Daniel Chima Chikwu scored in the 84th minute. 

“We knew Punjab FC would be very dangerous because, obviously, with (Ivan) Novoselec suspended, their four foreigners occupied the front slots, and that was the reason why we went with two foreigners at centre-back, given that Dinpuia was also suspended. So, Pritam (Kotal) slotted over to the right,” Coyle shared at the post-match press conference.

“We had plans that we could bring, obviously, Lukas (Brambilla) into the game when it opened up, and he found the spaces as he did. But at 1-0, we felt very good at half-time, knowing that Punjab FC would come out because they were fighting to be in those top six spots as well—and they did.”

The Scottish manager said he was disappointed with the way they conceded a goal and admitted that the opposition dominated the game for 10 minutes at that stage.

“I was disappointed with the goal; I think it was avoidable. But at 1-1, and in truth, I thought Punjab FC got their tails up and dominated for 10 minutes or so—a few crosses going across the face of the box, which I wasn’t entirely happy about because we gave up wide areas when we should have been stopping those crosses from coming in,” added the head coach.

Coyle introduced Lukas Brambilla and Chukwu in the second half and the duo played a key role in the match-winning goal.

“So we had to change a couple of things, which we did. We made a few tweaks, a few substitutions, just to get us more solid defensively, but also to give us the opportunity to then go and play our game again, which we did, resulting, obviously, in a wonderful goal.”

“When you’ve not won games back-to-back, there’s going to be a nervousness, there’s going to be an edge to it, but the boys stood up to that. I think (Mohammad) Nawaz had a good save at 2-1 late on,” Coyle commented.

Chennaiyin FC have won two matches on the bounce and they will next take on Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on 25th February.