Jamshedpur FC make their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) bow against NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday. The Hero ISL newbies have enjoyed a decent pre-season and will be looking to build on it with a win against the Highlanders in what will be their first ever match in the league.

Jamshedpur head coach Steve Coppell spoke about the excitement within the camp to get the new campaign up and running. “[We’re] excited first and foremost. All the other teams have also been preparing now for seven to eight weeks and I think we’re all just waiting to go. I’m honoured to be here and looking forward to the challenge,” Coppell told reporters at the pre-match press conference.

He continued: “It feels good to be in a new club although it doesn’t make a great deal of a difference, like I’ve said on a number of occasions. Sometimes a blank piece of paper is good, sometimes it’s a hindrance but as we build up to the game tomorrow, the concentration is just on the players and the management to try and create an environment where the players can express themselves properly. So it’s just a normal preparation in many ways.”

The Englishman admitted to being wary of the threat posed by NorthEast. “This isn’t my first game [here], so I know how hard it can be to come here. They’re going to be a good team and I know that we don’t really have any background information, and as a team we know a few of the individuals but in collective we know nothing and that’s the most difficult part of the first game of the season,” Coppell said.

“You’re playing to a certain extent in the dark but when they prepare for others I presume, they’re preparing in the dark as well. So once we get a couple of games under our belts then the preparation for each game will be specific. In terms of this particular match, it’s a tough game. Coming here first game this season, will be a tough match,” he added.

The 62-year-old also shared what he expects from the youngsters in his squad. “You know, young players are like sponges. At this stage of their development, they want to listen, they want to learn, they want to try and understand what you are offering in terms of football knowledge and what the game might be about. There isn’t one way to win a football match but I think to understand football from many different angles can only help younger players going forward. It’s a great opportunity [for youngsters] to gain knowledge and appreciate how the top players conduct themselves which is very often the best way of learning, so I’m sure and hope that my young players appreciate the environment they’re in and time will tell if it’s been of any benefit to them,” he concluded.