ISL 2021-22: We are wary of Kerala Blasters FC’s quality: Jamshedpur FC’s Owen Coyle

Jamshedpur FC head coach Owen Coyle is aware of Kerala Blasters FC quality before their semifinal clash at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda in the first leg on Friday. When these two teams had met earlier in December, the match had ended in a stalemate as the scoreline read 1-1.

However, Jamshedpur FC totally dominated the Southerners in their second meeting of the eighth season as they gave them a drubbing of 3-0 in February. However, Owen Coyle doesn’t want to take things lightly in the all-important semifinal match as the past records hardly matter in Football or any other sport.

Coyle admitted that Ivan Vukomanovic’s team will be a huge challenge for them and they will need to be at their best against them.

Coyle said in the pre-match press conference, “Kerala Blasters FC is a huge challenge. I think that the quality of the teams in the league is there for everyone to see, and the top four teams have finished at the place as it should, we’ve been the best team in the country all year. It was determined with the points we have, by the run we have been on. But when you come into a cup competition, anything can happen on any given day.”

He added, “So we’re very wary of the quality of the opponents and Kerala Blasters FC are a fantastic team. We’ve played them twice in a season, we played them twice in the pre-season. I got to know Ivan (Vukomanovic) really well. And I’ve got a great relationship with him, he is a wonderful coach and he’s an outstanding man off the field as well. So I know this is going to be two really tough games and then all they know as well, because they know the quality of Jamshedpur FC.”

Meanwhile, Coyle had taken off Boris Singh and introduced Len Seiminlen Doungel in their last match against ATK Mohun Bagan.

Speaking on this change, Coyle said, “Yeah, well, we wanted to freshen up the team before getting into a big game. I mean, we’ve been asked to play an extraordinary amount of games in such a short space of time. I think we’ve played six games and something in 17 days. And then the last three games in six days and every game was a high-pressure situation.

He added, “Yes, we want to freshen up, look to go, and bring all the energy we’ve had with the number of injuries, Peter Hartley was rested a game before (the ATK Mohun Bagan game). Peter came back and Greg was already thereafter he missed a game before when he was suspended. We just tried to get some freshness into the team. Boris Singh was desperate to play as well as Jitendra (Singh). Boris felt a little niggle, I didn’t want to take any chances and Len’s been playing anyway, so thought of bringing Len instead of Boris.”

Coyle also gave a special message to the club’s fans, who have supported them throughout the season. This is the first time when Jamshedpur FC has qualified for the semifinal stages and they have also clinched the Winners League Shield.

He added, “To our fans, hopefully you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen this season so far and there’s more to come. But everyone here is delighted to deliver the league shield and we were able to show that we’re the best team in India at the highest level. Obviously, with that comes other opportunities like the AFC Champions League and more possibilities to come. What we want to do is get the fans the double on the trophy and we’ve to play ever so well again because we’re going against very good opponents.”

The first leg of the semifinal between Jamshedpur FC and Kerala Blasters will be played at PJN Stadium, Fatorda on Friday.