Chennaiyin FC will look to kickstart the new year with a win against Jamshedpur FC in a 2021-22 Indian Super League match at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Sunday. Chennaiyin are currently placed sixth on the points table with three wins from eight games. Despite having unfavourable results in their recent games, the 52-year-old Montenegrin coach backed his players, saying they will make a comeback.

“We have a target and every player is working to achieve that and you can’t be disappointed with one or two losses. You need to be mentally very strong to succeed. I know the players will fight back and we will come out tomorrow and give our best. This is the only way I believe and play as a team. This is the way we need to keep going,” Chennaiyin FC’s head coach Bozidar Bandovic said during the team’s pre-match press conference on Saturday.

“Need to win the second ball”

Both the teams share a healthy rivalry between them as they have played each other eight times in the league, with Chennaiyin leading the head-to-head with three wins while Jamshedpur has two to their name.

“It’s [Jamshedpur] a good team, they know exactly what they are doing. They have strong players who can take set pieces. We need to be prepared for it, we need to win duels, we need to win the second ball. This gives you more opportunities to win the game. The coach [Owen Coyle] has been here for years and he knows the league and the players, so they’re a good team with good individuals,” Bandovic further added.

The two-time champions have also announced the signing of Nerijus Valskis as the Lithuanian forward has joined the club on a free transfer for the remainder of the season. His return will provide a much-needed boost to CFC’s attack going forward.

“He is a good player and has got that character. We needed someone like Valskis to score the goals. The whole first-half of the season we played with just five foreigners. At this moment he was the best choice for us as he knows the team and has been part of the league’s bio bubble which was an added advantage,” Bandovic said.

Valskis had an exceptional maiden ISL outing at Chennaiyin when he played a crucial role in Marina Machans’ runners-up finish in 2019-20. “I am very excited and very happy to be back home and wear the blue shirt again,” said Valskis, who won Golden Boot during his last ISL season with CFC, scoring 15 goals and six assists in 20 games.