PANJIM: At the pre-match press conference, head coach Owen Coyle reiterated the same sentiments and said, “I think when you have an advantage, it’s good. We know it’s a very dangerous game. We’re playing against an outstanding team, a team that finished on top of the table for a reason. We have huge respect for FC Goa and that wont change. It’s great to have any advantage and we have to make sure that we see the advantage through. We have to make sure that we are at our very best.”
“It’s not us who have to turn things around, its Goa. We have to stay focused in playing our game. We won’t change our style. We have shown that we are a goal threat and Goa know that. They know up close that we can create and score goals. Goa have some wonderful players and we have huge respect for them and how they play. It’s set to be a fantastic game. We come here with confidence in our advantage,” he said.
Addressing it, Coyle noted, “The league will present FC Goa with the Hero ISL League Winners Shield and rightly so. It is a magnificent achievement, and we will give them a guard of honour. We have no problem with that because we have a lot of respect for them. But when that game starts, we will be focused on that game and see ourselves to the final. In order to do that we need to be at our best.”
“That being said, we’re nine games unbeaten now and if you look at the last eight games of the league phase, then Chennaiyin took the most points. So, we know we’re a good side, we know we have good players. We’ve shown good mentality and desire. Before the Hyderabad game we hadn’t won away from home since November 2018. Then we won five. So, we come here at a difficult venue.”
