Winless in their last six Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2019-20 matches, Jamshedpur FC will be eager to break the unflattering trend when they host Kerala Blasters FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Sunday. The Jharkhand-based club has dropped down the standings rapidly after managing just three points from their last six matches and need a win to keep themselves relevant in the top four race.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Jamshedpur head coach Antonio Iriondo addressed Jamshedpur’s woeful form and said, “We are doing as much as we can to win the games. If we look at the last game for example, we had more possession and we created chances. But we weren’t able to score, we missed opportunities and in the same game, we gifted goals. I think we are doing the right things to win, but it has been a long time now. We hope this slump ends sooner than later.”

The Spaniard then spoke about Jamshedpur’s draw against Kerala when both sides met in the reverse fixture and remarked, “I hope we learn something from the previous match (against Kerala). It’s very painful when you are winning by two goals and then give up the advantage in 15 minutes. The team is working to try to fix this situation. In the training sessions, the players are giving their hundred percent. But then we must see their performances in the matches because it’s not the same thing. We will see if the situation we are in affects them mentally. Hopefully they can handle it and will not be too anxious before the match.”

Although Jamshedpur have managed just three points from their last six games, the head coach was confident of a positive result on Sunday. “We are aware of the situation. We are also aware of the fact that we have played one match lesser than the other teams. I am very confident that we can keep going up in the table. We have to be focused on the next match, win that match and then go to the next one. I am confident with the team and I’m sure we have the quality to win the next match and finish in the top four,” he opined.

Providing an update on Piti and Sergio Castel, both of whom have been sidelined for a while owing to injuries, Iriondo revealed, “We have two players with injury problems, Piti and Castel. Hopefully, they will be ready for next match. Piti is not fit for this game and Castel we are trying. If he is fit, he might get a few minutes during the Kerala match.”

Joining the head coach at the briefing was striker David Grande, who joined the team recently. Speaking about his time at the club till now, the Spaniard stated, “I’m very happy here. The facilities at the club are very good so we are very comfortable here. Jamshedpur is a great place to be and to grow. I am very happy here.”

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