ISL 2022-23: We have made a solid start and we are getting better over time – Aidy Boothroyd

Jamshedpur FC head coach Aidy Boothroyd is happy with the start that they have got in the ongoing season of the Hero Indian Super League 2022-23. The previous season League Shield winners have won one, lost one and drawn one out of the three matches they have played so far.

Jamshedpur FC had lost their opening match of the season against Odisha FC by 3-2. In fact, Jamshedpur FC were leading the match by 2-1 but went on to concede two goals at the fag end of the game. Subsequently, they shared the spoils with Mumbai City FC as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Jamshedpur FC won their first match of the season after they defeated NorthEast United FC by 1-0.

Sharing his thoughts on the performance of his team, Aidy Boothroyd said in the press conference, “Yes, very much so, I am happy. I think (in) our opening game, we were 2-0 until the 87th minute, and thereafter we lost the game. Therefore, there are big lessons for us from that game that hurt (us) very much. (We) earned a very good point against Mumbai City FC and then an incredibly professional performance in our last game, against NorthEast United FC, which we are very pleased about. So, we’ve made a solid start and we’re getting better over time. That’s the pleasing thing for me.”

Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC will take on FC Goa on Thursday while playing away from home. The Gaurs didn’t have a great run in the previous season but they have won two out of their three matches they have played. Boothroyd is expecting a tough match against Carlos Pena’s team.

He said, “I’m expecting a well-organised team. I’m expecting a good team. We were fortunate enough to play FC Goa in the pre-season, so both clubs have a good relationship on and off the pitch. I expect it (the game) to be difficult as they have got good players but so have we. Our last game (against FC Goa) was a draw, so hopefully both teams will be thinking they can do better (than the other team). We’re very much looking forward to the game and it’s nice to be back in Goa again.”

Boothroyd added that they will look to put the opposition under pressure and they can come out on top if they keep the opposition crowd quiet.

The Englishman concluded, “It can’t be louder than our crowd. I’d say I think we were probably 1-0 up in that respect, our support was fantastic and very noisy (in the home game against NEUFC). So I guess for us, we have to show respect to our opponent, to our crowd, and the opponent’s crowd. We have to make sure we try to quieten their crowd. They’re a good team, we know that it’s a good club, and we’ll have to be at our best to get a good result and that’s what we intend to do.”