FRESH AFTER THEIR DEVASTING LOSS against East Bengal, Minerva will be back on the field to face a team that won against the defending champions in their last game. Both Coaches were at the pre-match press conference speaking to the press ahead of the today's game.
Currently at the bottom of the points table, which is never a comfortable place to be in, Surinder Singh, Minerva Punjab Coach feels only a victory can lift their spirits and they will do everything to get all three points.
Surinder further added,
"We’re prepared now for our next challenge and we like to bring the team up with confidence. The boys need confidence and once we have won three points, our morale will rise up."
Quizzed if the team would take an attacking stance in the approach against Churchill Brothers, Surinder replied saying,
“We’ll definitely attack, but once we lose the possession, we have to defend no matter what.”
Alfred Fernandes, asked about his thoughts on the climate conditions and the long travel to Ludhiana, said,
"We have to get through this phase. We’re part of I-League before. We’re used to travelling around, but we only have little time to practice, which is tough on the players. The schedule is such that there can be no complaints because it’s the same for all times."
With hardly a week's time between their last game and their upcoming game, Surinder spoke on how the team is coping with this tight schedule, saying,
"We need to bear this schedule we got and we have to put our effort in training also and we have to manage recovery for our players for our next game"
On the back of a victory against Bengaluru FC, Churchill Coach, Alfred, talked about the confidence of the team saying,
"When we go out on the field, it’s always 3 points in mind. Sometimes strategies fail, sometimes it works. I was the first to congratulate Bengaluru FC for their AFC campaign. It was a fabulous achievement for Indian football."
The campaign must be also tough on the Miverva players with the disappointing results. Simranjeet, was also present at the press conference along with Coach Surinder, shared his views on the season so far,
"Yes, last defeat was a huge one for us,but now that we have Colm Sir with us, and daily we get to hear our errors and in training we work on that and we are sure will improve in the next match"
For Churchill Brothers, Melvin D’Silva accompanied the Coach at the press conference. He was asked to share about the climatic conditions that the travelling players will be facing in the game. He said,
“It’s cold, we have to adapt to this climate and play. In Goa, it’s very hot now,”
The match is scheduled at 4:30 PM and it’ll be telecast live on Ten 2.