Jamshedpur FC’s coach Owen Coyle believes his side can produce a positive result if they are at their best as they prepare to face ATK Mohun Bagan in match 110 of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 season at PJN Stadium, Margao, Goa on Monday.

Jamshedpur FC are top of the table with 40 points in 19 matches. They are three points ahead of their opponents on Monday, ATK Mohun Bagan and need to avoid defeat by more than a one-goal margin to remain top of the table and win the League Winners' Shield.

Jamshedpur FC won 5-1 against Odisha FC in their last match. A brace from Daniel Chukwu in the opening half an hour took the match away from OFC.

Ahead of Jamshedpur FC’s clash against ATK Mohun Bagan, coach Coyle addressed the media during the official pre-match press conference.

Here are the excerpts from the press conference.

Is the team vary of compromising the position it is currently in?

The past years will have no effect on what’s to come on Monday. The bottom line is that there are going to be two very good teams going toe-to-toe on the pitch. We know that if we’re at our very best then we can produce a positive result and we will approach the game with the intention of winning because that’s how we play. We’re at our best currently and we’re trying to win every game possible and nothing will compromise what we are aiming for. We will play on our front foot and try to win a tough game against very strong opponents. If we do win, then we will finish in the #1 spot in the country and we’ll lift the shield which is what everybody’s aim is. We’ve already taken Jamshedpur FC to a position they’ve never been before, which is the playoffs position but we’re not settling here just yet.

Despite major huddles in the season Jamshedpur FC have done well, what are your thought on it?

Within all those games that we’ve played, as much as we’ve won games, there are always moments and games that’ll be challenging. There have been games where we’ve been held back and we had to get back into those games by seeing our way through because when you play strong teams, there’s always periods in the game where the other team is at an advantage and we have to try to manage those situations in the best way possible. Of course, it’s been good to see how well we’ve coped with the trials and tribulations we’ve been through in the second half of the season.

How excited are you about the crucial game against ATK Mohun Bagan?

Everybody in this football club is excited for this game because everyone has worked ever so hard to put ourselves into the position we are in. But we also know that we’re about to play some wonderful opponents who have fantastic individual players and an outstanding team who have been on such a long unbeaten streak. It’s the best they’ve ever played in the league and full credit to them for that. We have a chance of finishing in the #1 position and so does ATK Mohun Bagan, so we want to see it through and go on to give our best performance because if we do that, then we know we can win such tough games.

What do you think about the brilliant performances put up by Indian players?

I am very much delighted with all my players regardless of them being foreign players or domestic ones because it’s not about individual players but it’s a result of collective effort. Of course, in this season the number of foreigners was reduced to 4 which gave another Indian player an opportunity to be on the pitch, which has been great for us because all our players have been doing really well. I have said this before as well that the players don’t even need to be on the pitch to contribute to the team because they bring such quality to the club and these players are as important as the ones who are on the field.