Chennaiyin FC Seeks Strong Performance Against Hyderabad FC

ISL 2024-25: Coach Coyle seeks a strong show as determined Chennaiyin FC aims to bounce back on against Hyderabad FC

Chennai, September 30, 2024: Chennaiyin FC will aim for a solid response to their previous result when they take on Hyderabad FC in their third Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 encounter on Tuesday at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad.

The two-time champions will also look for their second successive away win, having previously beaten Odisha FC in their season’s opening encounter. Speaking to the media ahead of the game, head coach Owen Coyle found positives in his side’s performance at home in the defeat to Mohammedan SC in their last match while underlining what they needed to improve to return to winning ways.

“We started very well and could easily have been two or three goals in front, but we never scored [vs Mohammedan]. We must be more clinical because we created good chances,” Coyle said.

“We know it was a great opportunity, and we let it pass us by. But we also know that, within the game, we dominated the possession; we dominated ten corners to two with 22 attempts at goal. We need to be more on target, repeatedly, because the more times we’re on target, the more chances of scoring goals.”

The head coach also highlighted the importance of sticking to the principles despite going behind: “The important thing is that when you lose a goal, as we did, whether it’s from an error, whether it’s somebody producing a little bit of magic, you know, somebody hitting one from 30 yards in the top corner, what has got to happen is that we still maintain the way we play. We don’t, you know, start to panic. There’s lots of time to get back in the game.”

Chennaiyin FC captain Ryan Edwards, who accompanied Coyle to the presser, echoed the head coach’s words, stating that the team’s response in training has been great. Edwards also highlighted the threat Hyderabad carries into the match.

“There’s still a lot of young players who were there last season, and we know what happened when we played them there. We gave them the first win. So we’ve got to bear that in mind and make sure we’re right at it, as we were in Odisha and the first 30 minutes against Mohammedan the other night because they’re full of energy and willing to impress the coach,” Edwards said.

Hyderabad have lost their first two matches this season, against Punjab FC and Bengaluru FC.

Read more at Ireland Achieves Historic T20I Victory Over South Africa