ISL 2017-18: Deserved something from the game with our overall performance, says Jamshedpur coach

JAMSHEDPUR FC lost to Pune City 1-2 after being in the lead in the first half of the match in Pune on Wednesday.

Coach Steve Coppell at the post match press conference addressed what went wrong in the second half.

"After 1-1, they moved Marcelinho out to a wider position which was in isolation. When he was in the middle, we could crowd around him but when he went wide, it became a little more difficult to try and contain him. Once again, a quality player made all the difference."

"From my point of view, in the first half we were terrific. In the second half obviously, we conceded two goals and then we had a fabulous drive to score a second from our side. We had a good chance in the end and they looked dangerous on the break but that was a risk we had to take. To throw men forward, to take chances and to try and get back in the game. I am pleased with the way my team played and the efforts they gave, given the fact it was a three-day turnaround for us as well. It is difficult for us, especially, to play back to back games within three days."

Talking about if Jamshedpur deserved a point from this match, he said,

"Yes, of course. I am standing here now with nothing so if someone gives me a point, it's not a bad thing. I do think our overall contribution deserved something from the game. We didn't plan to come here and play in a restricted way. It was not just about stopping them from playing, we were trying to attack them as well. You know in the last 10 minutes their goalkeeper came for a couple of crosses which helped them exceptionally well. A lot of traffic and he came and caught the ball and dropped hardly anything. Credit to him, he played a full role in his team’s victory as well."

He further spoke about the upcoming fixtures,

"It won’t define us but it will shape us. For us to play four games in 11 days, this is the thing that I don’t understand. We are playing four games in 11 days in what is a longer season than previously, and every team has done it, I think. Why is there this three-day turnaround? When we finish this period in Mumbai, after that we don’t play for nine days. I know scheduling is a problem but to subject everybody to the three-day turnaround when there is so much travelling in India. There is a lesson to be learnt going forward and it shouldn’t be such an endurance test. It should be a test of footballing skills over a prolonged period of time."

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