Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle wants his team to continue improving as his side prepare to face Punjab FC in Matchweek 11 of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.

The Marina Machans currently sit in sixth position in the league table with 12 points from 10 games. They have won three games, drawn thrice and lost four matches so far this season.

Chennaiyin FC had endured a tough start to the season where they had lost their first three games on the trot, conceding eight goals and scoring just once in the process. Since then they have improved their performances, losing just once while winning three games and drawing three matches. Coyle always believed that performances were going to improve with time.

“Things were always going to come together. The longer we worked together the better we were going to become,” Coyle stated at the pre-match press conference.

“We are nowhere near where I want us to be but we are improving,” he further said.

“Our aim this season was always to reach the playoff positions so we will continue improving both individually and collectively,” he added.

Chennaiyin FC's opponents, Punjab FC, sit in 11th position in the league table with five points from 10 games. They have drawn five games and lost five games and are still searching for their first win of the season.

Chennaiyin FC had defeated Punjab FC earlier this season in Chennai with a comprehensive 5-1 victory. However, Coyle believes that the previous victory does not matter now and that it will be tough to beat them again.

“It was nice to get that victory however that counts for nothing in the upcoming game,” Coyle said.

“Punjab FC have shown that they are a very good side. They are a dangerous team. They are an organised side who also work very hard,” he further said.

“We certainly believe that this is a game that we can win, but to win the game we need to be very good on the day,” he added.

Chennaiyin FC have scored 15 goals so far this season which is also the second highest number of goals scored by a team this season, behind only Mohun Bagan Super Giant. However, Coyle wants his team to be more clinical.

“We know we can be solid on the ball and create chances, but when we get chances we need to be clinical,” Coyle said.

Coyle also spoke about absentees and informed that Aakash Sangwan, Rahim Ali and Farukh Choudhary will not be part of the squad for the game.

Can help to organise our defense line: Debjit Majumder

Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Debjit Majumder joined head coach Owen Coyle in the pre-match press conference. He has got two cleansheets so far this season.

Majumder feels that his communication with the Chennaiyin FC defensive line helps them organise their shape during important moments in the game.

“The coach has also asked me to talk to the defence during the game since from my position I can see the whole team and the whole structure of our team,” Majumder said.

“I can help to organise our defensive line by communicating from the back,” he added.

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