Jamshedpur FC delivered their dedicated fans a season that they all have been dreaming of ever since the club came into existence. The squad overcame every hurdle that was placed in their way and came out of the victorious ends of most of their fixtures that they yearned for, taking them up to the path to lift the prestigious Hero ISL League Shield and add their first piece of silverware into the club’s trophy cabinet.
After registering a dream campaign in the league stage, Owen Coyle is one happy man and all credits to the entire Jamshedpur FC team for bringing the Gaffer’s master plan into fruition. Post lifting the League Shield, our Boss takes us through the journey of becoming the Head coach of Jamshedpur FC and helping them become the #1 and the most-talked about club in the country.
When asked to summarize the 2021-22 campaign of the Men of Steel, Owen Coyle was quite expressive and spoke highly of all the players, staff and hardworking people behind the scenes of the club ahead of the 1st leg of the Hero ISL Semi Finals 2021-22.
To begin with, the Gaffer spoke about the club and the squad when he was appointed as the new Head Coach. He also mentions how close they were from qualifying for the playoffs in the last season itself.
“I don’t think we have enough time for me to fully describe the whole season for you but what I would say is that from the outset of this season, our ambition and our main goal was to be the best team in the country as all the other competitors would have wanted to be as well. We felt that bit by bit incrementally we’re improving from last year, when we came close to qualifying, given the fact that a lot of things went against us, a few domestic and foreign players who were inherited by me when I took charge of the club who were serving their contract, but I am not saying there weren’t good players, they were amazing players. But they weren’t the type of players in terms of the style I wanted to have in my team but still they were some really good lads. So, we came very close to qualifying but we realized the aspects that we needed to make improvements in and when you look at the league, there are some clubs who are big spenders and are financial leaders of the league.”
Later Owen Coyle went on to explain how the club began making the desired changes to the squad bit by bit in each transfer window with new players coming in and retaining the crucial players that would play a vital role in the club’s future seasons. “We knew we could not be on those high budget levels but we had to make sure we were the best versions of ourselves in what we do. Obviously I love identifying and working with bright young players, so myself and my staff kept looking for young prospects in other clubs who we felt we could bring to our club. In each transfer window, we applied the same tactic as if you see our last January window, we brought Boris, Farukh back into the club, imagine the team we’d have if Farukh was also there in our squad for the season and then we brought Len Doungel as well who has been brilliant for us and so has Boris. Then in the summer transfer window, we aimed to bring in both domestic and foreign players into the club as we went on to retain Peter Hartley and also Alex Lima who played majority of the previous season with an injury and I knew Alex at his 100% would be one of the best midfielders in the league which was proven. Jordan Murray played against us who is an exciting player and we managed to bring him in. Eli Sabia had previously worked with me and was a part of a final with Chennaiyin FC who went from the bottom of the league to the finals which we should have won on any other day. So, I knew the quality I was bringing in with Eli and Peter Hartley at the back, Alex Lima in the midfield and Valskis who was already serving his 2 year contract with the club. Then we brought in Greg Stewart who is a number 10 and we didn’t have someone of his quality available last season and I craved a player like that to be in my team. But because of the inherited players, I didn’t have enough resources to get a player like that into the club and a player wasn’t even available at that time. I did try to sign Rafa Crivillero to the club when I came in but he signed a new contract with Chennaiyin FC. So we needed a player like that and Greg Stewart is more than everything we wanted from a player like him who brings so much quality to the team both on and off the field. So, Greg was obviously an outstanding foreign addition to the squad. Then looking at that, the domestic players were equally important so we brought in Laldinpuia who was playing in the I-League and I really liked the quality in him, we tried to bring in Anas a season prior but he suffered an injury, but even he is a very experienced national player and even though he hasn’t played much but he has been very influential to the team because he’s an outstanding man. Then we already had the young lads like Narender in the squad as well and later we brought in some lads in the midfield like Pronay who was a fantastic addition and he’s a national player who knows how to play his game and knows the value of himself and his teammates which makes him a great addition for us in the middle of the park. In the wing areas, we brought in Komal Thatal, Boris Singh who I had seen in ATK Mohun Bagan and was impressed by these young players who I thought I could bring into the club and help them improve. But ultimately it's up to the players to come into the pitch and Komal missed half of this season but he was outstanding and exciting for us. If you think if Farukh hadn’t missed out this season, then we’d have surpassed the quality that we currently have if Komal and Farukh were involved. I saw young Ritwik in Kerala Blasters and I was delighted every time I saw him play but he was released from Kerala Blasters like the other lads who were not given the game time in their previous teams but it was nice that we were able to bring these lads into the club together.”
Head Coach Owen Coyle also was quite expressive about the young bright prospects that he knew were lads filled with untapped potential and felt that the young lads would fit in perfectly with the plan he had in mind for the club. The Gaffer expresses how impressed he is by the hunger, determination and character the young lads have displayed and had nothing but praises for them.
“Hopefully we played a little part in helping them improve. Ritwik has been sensational and Laldinpuia as well but obviously they need some time to adjust into what we are about in Jamshedpur FC but I can see them improve everyday on the training ground. Young Sandip Mandi, Jitendra, Mobashir, Narender all stepped up and showed that they are a part of this club moving forward and the big signing, Ishan Pandita as well who I am finding a way to give him more minutes as he is going to be a sensational player and we wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for Ishan’s goals. Not only his on field play, but the way he is about the place and obviously he came with back-to-back vital winning goals at the right time which shows his quality. He is an amazing number 9 and he’s a better player this season than he was last year and he’ll continue to improve.”
The Gaffer also spoke about the brave shot stoppers of the club and how they have been an influential element in the club’s back line and how the lads have been pushing each other to become better as each day passed with two TFA graduates training under the experienced goalkeepers of the club. “Obviously we had TP Rehenesh in goal who has been outstanding for us in the last 2 years and in my opinion he’s as good as any goalkeeper in this country and I said this to Igor Stimac as well that according to me he should be one of the shortlisted keepers in the national team probables. But Rehenesh is also motivated by Pawan Kumar who has been an outstanding professional, so I cannot praise him highly enough. If I have missed anyone then forgive me. Then we have two young keepers, Vishal and Mohit who are pushing to improve as well.”
In the end, Owen Coyle was all praises for his coaching team and staff who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the show going smoothly despite all the trials and tribulations in their way. “Everybody in the staff has been working ever so hard and it is nice when we achieve something tangible in terms of winning the shield because it is a collective effort and that’s how we like to go about it.”
Stay tuned for part 2 of the pre-match press conference as the Boss shares his thoughts ahead of the 1st leg of the Semi Finals.
