ISL 2021-22: It is difficult, but not an impossible scenario: Chennaiyin FC head coach Sabir Pasha on qualifying for the semi-finals

Chennaiyin FC head coach Sabir Pasha admitted that it will be difficult for them to qualify for the semifinal stages but it is not impossible. The Marina Machans are currently in the eighth position in the points table with five wins from 16 matches and they have 19 points under their belt.

Ergo, the two-time ISL champions will need to win their remaining four matches to get to 31 points in the standings and that will give them a chance to qualify for the last four. Furthermore, they will want other results to go their way.

Chennai had received a drubbing of 5-0 against FC Goa in their last match, which was their biggest in Hero ISL and they will need to bounce back stronger. After that result, the club also decided to sack their former coach Bozidar Bandovic.

Chennaiyin FC will face Odisha FC in their next match and Pasha reckons it will be imperative for his team to be at the top of their game.

Sabir Pasha said in the pre-match press conference, “We have to be strong, they are a very good attacking side. They have some good players to do the damage. So I think if you can stop that, I think we’ll be fine. We can come out with the result. But the only problem is that we have to be strong in our defense, in the midfield as well as in our defensive third”.

Speaking about the philosophy and the changes he would like to make in the team, Pasha said, “It’s a very short time to put all your philosophies inside. So I think we have to be sensible at this point in time. Like you when you change things, we have to think about many things, what is the status of the players, how they are in, what state they’re in. Keeping that in mind it’s a challenge. According to that, we have to mould and that is the quality of the coach, what we have to do. And that is the challenge for the coach. And I think what we are trying to do is try to get the best out of the players rather than fixing our philosophies and other things. Once I think our players do their maximum and come to their best, then we will be a strong side”.

There is no doubt that it will be difficult for Chennaiyin FC to qualify for the semifinal stages from the current situation.

Pasha concluded, “You’re right, you’re practical. Also, the thing is like it’s a difficult scenario, it’s not an impossible scenario. But the first thing is like as you come to know the confidence of the players has to come on the field, their natural ability should come on the field. That will be the first challenge. That was the first task that I have to set right. Once I do that that everything will fall and that is where I think we have to concentrate and we have to get the best out of the players whatever they have. If you don’t get the best, I think everybody will suffer”.

Chennaiyin FC will face Odisha FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium.