ISL: Can Owen Coyle bring about a change in Jamshedpur FC's fortunes?

Jamshedpur FC are on a mission this season. After finishing 8th with just 18 points in as many games in the Indian Super League (ISL) last season, the Red Miners have made some interesting acquisitions in the summer.

Last season’s Golden Boot winner Nerijus Valskis is set to reunite with head coach Owen Coyle after the duo helped Chennaiyin to a runners-up finish last term. He is joined by defenders Peter Hartley and Stephen Eze as well as midfielders Alex Lima and Nicholas Fitzgerald as the side attempts to shore up both their attack and defence. Furthermore, as many as 10 young domestic talents have been promoted from the club’s reserve squad to achieve that subtle balance between experience and youthful exuberance.

Nerijus Valskis in training (Source: Twitter / Jamshedpur FC)

Over this past week, the club has been addressing the media via video conferences with several players speaking about the season ahead and how the team is shaping up. We asked young midfielder Amarjit Singh Kiyam how difficult it has been to gel with the newcomers in the side with the increased premium on time before the tournament begins.

“It has been very easy actually. Since we have been spending almost all of our time together, the bonding and camaraderie in the squad has developed quite organically. The senior and foreign players keep giving us advice and encouraging us so it has been good overall,” said Amarjit.

His partner-in-crime for the day, Jitendra Singh, was all praise for the coaching staff in terms of the effort they put in on the training pitch to get the best out of the players. “The pre-season has of course been quite hectic. We mostly train twice a day, work in the gym, practice with and without the ball and work on our technique. The players are trying to build their fitness up as quickly as possible and the regimen that the coaches prepare for us is very detailed and helpful,” he expressed.

https://twitter.com/JamshedpurFC/status/1326811979172999168

Also addressing the media was Nerijus Valskis, and the Lithuanian sharpshooter was asked whether he was relishing the challenge of coming up against his former side in the first match of the season. “It will be a little bit strange to play against my former teammates, that too in the first match itself. I have some great memories from my time there and have huge respect for the club, the players and the fans. However, I am a Jamshedpur player now and I will try my level best to get a positive result on the day,” he replied. A cheeky question regarding if he would celebrate scoring against them however was met with a poker-faced ‘We will see’.

Defender Laldinliana Renthlei, who partnered Valskis in the virtual meet, reiterated the players’ desire to be at their best by the time the first match rolls along. “We have already had a few practice matches and everyone is getting better with each training session. Once the tournament starts, we will go all out for the three points in every match and do everything for the fans, who will be in our thoughts throughout, even if they are not inside the stadium,” he signed off.