Today we played a more complete game: Jamshedpur FC's Scott Cooper
Jamshedpur FC head coach Scott Cooper shared his views after their thumping win over Hyderabad FC.
Jamshedpur FC head coach Scott Cooper expressed satisfaction with his team's performance as they registered an electrifying 5-0 win over Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.
The Men of Steel secured the crucial three points in Hyderabad to get back to winning ways, marking their second victory of the season.
A goal from Nigerian forward Daniel Chima Chukwu in the second minute of the match handed Jamshedpur FC a quickfire lead. Chima scored again in the 20th minute with a brilliant bicycle kick to double their advantage. Seiminlen Doungel made it 3-0, scoring a banger from outside the box in the 70th minute, which was soon followed by an own goal from Hyderabad FC forward Jonathan Moya. Chima completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute as the Men of Steel completed their double over Hyderabad FC.
हैदराबाद में मिली 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 जीत. #JamKeKhelo #HFCJFC pic.twitter.com/BPgddDEGtB
— Jamshedpur FC (@JamshedpurFC) December 21, 2023
The head coach believes it was a must-win game for his team and they didn’t look for anything else.
“It was one of those games where both teams knew they must win. We never came in with any illusions of anything else, or any excuses or anything prepared. We didn’t give our players anywhere to hide or anything they could hang on. Even being away from home, it was a must-win game,” Cooper stated in the post-match press conference.
Their only other win in the league this season came against the very same opponent, Hyderabad FC, and thereafter, they couldn't register any more wins, falling just short by small margins. Cooper expressed his satisfaction at finally getting to see a complete game after a long time this season.
“Teams have seen us pass a ball, and make chances, but they haven’t seen us play a complete game. Tonight we played a more complete game and even then Rei (Tachikawa) and Jeremy (Manzorro) missed two huge chances," he shared.
Reflecting on the match, the Irish-English tactician expressed concern about his team breaking their shape in the middle of the match, thereby giving the opposition an unnecessary advantage.
Cooper shared, “At 1-0, I was actually very concerned. I was very frustrated because we had two of three players, maybe three is too harsh, but two players were not playing in the shape we practised, and therefore, there was a 15-minute spell there that Hyderabad FC looked like they would score to get the equaliser.”
The 53-year-old wants his team to emphasize the changes that have benefited them, aiming to improve and looks forward to carrying these advantages into their next match against Odisha FC.
“We can’t take anything into the next game. We just have to say okay, we can see the benefit of certain things we’ve said and done. Certain things we’ve done in terms of possession. We have to take the benefits, the proof, that these aspects have added more to our game and into the next game,” said Cooper.