Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle wants his team to add consistency to their performances and feels that it is the best time for them to record back-to-back wins as they host Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Chennai on Thursday. 

The Marina Machans are best placed to grab the sixth and final playoff spot as they have their fate in their own hands. A win over Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the last game would have severely boosted their confidence ahead of the crucial run-in that sees them face fellow rivals for the playoff spot in Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United FC. 

Chennaiyin FC have struggled with consistency all season, but the Scottish head coach believes that the time is right for them to put their best foot forward again. 

“The win in Kolkata was a big boost for us but what the best teams to do is play with quality consistently and that's our challenge,” he said during the pre-match press conference. 

“If we win against Jamshedpur FC, that puts us in a very good position. But we have to earn that win. Jamshedpur FC hand anything to us. We need to be ready for it and make sure that we show our quality,” he added. 

“This is the best time to win games, be consistent and build momentum. I liked the character that the team showed in the last game. We didn't feel sorry for ourselves when we fell behind. In the second half, we were outstanding and by far the better team and we deserved the victory,” he continued. 

Eyes on the prize 👀🏆🔋💯#AllInForChennaiyin pic.twitter.com/aBXDGv9Yza

— Chennaiyin F.C. (@ChennaiyinFC) April 3, 2024

Coyle felt his team can match up to any team if they bring their best version to the field and that should be the aim of his team for the remainder of the season. 

“It was important we were at our very best against Mohun Bagan SG. We showed that we could do that against Odisha FC but didn't do it against Hyderabad FC,” he said. 

“We want to have a strong finish to the season and we can only do that if we are out our very best,” he added. 

The 57-year-old had words of praise for his former team Jamshedpur FC who he feels should have more points on the board than they have. 

“Jamshedpur FC are a very good side. They have some very good players in the team. I think they should have more points than what they have. I think Jamshedpur FC have lost 13 points from winning positions which shows how well they have done in those games,” he said. 

“I am under no illusions how difficult the game will be with the number of players that I know like Daniel Chima Chukwu who is a terrific player, Manzorro, Elsinho, Tachikawa and Siverio and the domestic players, some of whom which I signed. So, this will be as difficult a game as it was against Mohun Bagan SG. It's a game between two very attack-minded teams but we know that if we are at our best, we can win the game,” he added.

Coyle thus believes that his team would need to be better without the ball in order to blunt Jamshedpur FC’s threat. 

“We have an attacking threat. If we get crosses into the box, Murray will score with the quality he has,” he added. 

“But what we also need to do is be solid against the ball as Jamshedpur FC have really talented players like Imran Khan. He has a brilliant left foot. So we have to be strong against the ball and be quick on that counter-attack, be brave, be positive and try and win a tough game,” Coyle concluded.