Jamshedpur FC face Kerala Blasters FC in their second fixture of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday. After picking up a point at NorthEast United FC in their opening match, Jamshedpur will want to register their first ever ISL win against a formidable Blasters side. Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference was Jamshedpur gaffer and former Kerala head coach Steve Coppell, who began by saying that the season was still too young to offer a proper analysis of any team.

“I think it’s too early to analyse both the teams. The season is just one game old, and it’s very much a question of all the teams trying to find their feet.” Coppell explained. “So, I think that’s certainly the case with both Kerala and Jamshedpur. We have both played one game, but I think it is only after about three or four games that you will have an idea of the character of your squad and how capable they are going forward. So, at the moment, it’s just a question of wait and see.”

Coppell seemed happy to be visiting the place that gave him so many fond memories last season, but he remains focused on his job with Jamshedpur. “I’m very happy to be back in Kochi in many ways. To see so many of my old players, to see the town, the stadium; it brings back a lot of happy memories for me from last season,” he reminisced. “I’m glad to be here. The reception I have had so far from the people I have seen walking on the streets has been lovely. It’s nice to be remembered, but it’s a new season, and I am here to do the job for somebody else.”

Another individual who will be returning to Kerala is Jamshedpur’s midfield general Mehtab Hossain. On his decision to continue to work with Hossain having coached him for Kerala last year, Coppell said: “The familiarity of knowing what he (Mehtab) can do, is the reason I took him. It’s a bit strange for a foreign coach when it comes to the Indian player draft, because there are certain players you do know, because you have worked with them and you need advice from the people around you. When it came to our Indian player draft, we had specific targets. We had early choices, because as a new club, we didn’t have any retained players. We made our selections early on, and we just padded the core.”

Anas Edathodika was the joint-most expensive player in the draft as well as Jamshedpur’s most expensive acquisition and the Englishman revealed how the robust centre-back’s performances last season made him an important player for his team. “I saw him (Anas) last year in the ISL. He’s a good, strong character, and as a defender, he likes defending. So, they would be the qualities we would be looking for. He has a strong mentality as well, so I hope he plays his natural game and continues to play like he has for the last couple of years,” he said.

When asked for his thoughts on his former side Kerala, Coppell added: “Rene is a really nice bloke who knows his football. I know he has had help from close-by in terms of the selection of his players. It looks a very healthy squad to me, and I’m sure that they are capable of making a big impact on the league this season.”