Chennaiyin FC will be aiming for a rapid return to winning ways in the Indian Super League 2024-25 when they take on Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex Football Stadium, Jamshedpur, on Monday.

A win could take Chennaiyin into the playoff spots, but head coach Owen Coyle is wary of the challenge awaiting his team in Jamshedpur, who are fourth in the table but come into the match on the back of a 5-0 defeat against NorthEast United FC.

“I think it’s going to be another very exciting game,” Coyle told the media present at the Press Conference Room, JRD Tata Sports Complex Football Stadium, for his pre-match presser. “I think you have two very attack-minded teams, both coming off a disappointing result for different reasons. Ourselves, we played brilliantly in the first half against Punjab FC, scored a very good goal, and a second which should never have been disallowed.”

“That being said, we didn’t defend well enough at the start of the second half, but we come here looking forward to the game against a club I have so much time for. We know for the duration of the match, we’ll be doing everything in our power to win the match,” he added.

The Marina Machans are on the road for the fifth time in seven games, having won two and drawn two of the previous six. Coyle acknowledged the difficult schedule and underlined areas of improvement for his side.

“This will be our fifth game out of seven away from home. We have certainly been given a very difficult schedule–even the quick turnaround from playing in Delhi against Punjab before directly flying to Jamshedpur,” the CFC head coach added, before thanking Jamshedpur FC for their hospitality. “On the field, we have to show our quality. We are scoring goals freely; what we want to do is make sure we’re tighter defensively and not give soft goals away. We are excited about the season and the best way to carry on that excitement is to keep picking points–and that’s what we’re going to try and do tomorrow night.”

Of the 14 matches the pair have previously contested in the Indian Super League, Chennaiyin FC have won six. CFC also have a positive record over their opponents across the previous five games, winning two and drawing two.

Head-To-Head

Matches: 14 | CFC: 6 | JAM: 3 | Draws: 5