ISL 2022-23: Now is the time to play with experience and a good team: Chennaiyin FC’s Thomas Brdaric

Chennaiyin FC head coach Thomas Brdaric feels it is high time that his team makes the most of the experience they have and tick the right boxes as a unit. The Marina Machans will host Odisha FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai on Thursday.

Chennaiyin FC is struggling in eighth position in the standings with a total of 17 points. Brdaric’s team has managed only four wins in 15 matches and they haven’t been able to come up with a collective show.

On the other hand, Odisha FC is in sixth place in the standings with a total of 22 points and seven wins in 15 matches.

“We had a pre-match meeting with the players, and we tried to show them the opportunities. Five matches are left, and we need to get 15 points if everything goes the way we want, which will help us reach our targets. Now is the time to play with experience and a good team, and I am confident we will be able to implement what is required,” Brdaric said in the official pre-match press conference.

Meanwhile, the two-time champions are struggling with injury woes. The club’s talisman Dutch-Morroccan star Abdenasser El Khayati is out of action due to a hamstring injury.

“It is always good to have all players on the board, but we have some issues to sort out because getting the players back in shape is not easy and we need to be patient. Thursday is going to be a decisive day for the club, and we will need everybody to perform with motivation to survive in the match,” he added.

Brdaric feels there are risks in offensive football and wants his players to maintain their formation and shape during the whole match.

“Offensive football is always risky, how we want to stay at the back is also important, so we are working on that. The response is clear, everybody has to be in shape as we play high intensity football, the transitions in the league are very high, and we need to be powerful in every department,” the 48-year-old said.

The German added that his team will look to press hard and has a game plan ready for the big match against Odisha FC.

“If you follow the last few matches of Odisha FC, they press pretty well and create good chances. We will be pressing with high intensity to reduce the gaps and spaces for the opponents, they are offensive on the wings. I hope we can implement our plan well against them,” he commented.