Defending champion Chennaiyin FC finally got its maiden win of the Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19 season, and did so in style, beating FC Pune City 4-2 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune.
Chennaiyin FC captain Mailson Alves (left) scored a goal and assisted one against FC Pune City
Chennai:
“Well, it’s been a long time coming. I personally think we’ve played in some very close matches and we haven’t really got the results that we deserved. Some of our football has been excellent and we’ve never really got a break. We gave away a couple of goals due to mistakes at the back and consequently, they’ve proved vital. But today (Tuesday), I think, things changed a little bit as our boys never lost their desire or their professionalism even though we were 0-1 down. They continued to keep playing.”
He also praised the team for its character in face of adverse conditions and revealed, “We’ve had 6-7 boys who had a virus in the last week or so. They played two games. One on Saturday and one again (on Tuesday). Calderon was in the hospital on Saturday after the game. He had to go away from the ground in an ambulance to be treated. There have been few of them that have been sick with various viruses and sicknesses. But they kept going and they all wanted to play. That’s the beauty of some of these guys.”
After opting to leave club captain Mailson Alves on the bench in Chennaiyin’s last few matches, Gregory gave the Brazilian a start against FCPC and he proved to be the inspiration the team needed. Alves not only scored the equaliser, but also provided the assist for the second goal. “I had my no. 27 back in the team and he certainly was a little bit more like he was last season. He scored a goal and defended particularly well. And it was good to see the old Mailson back again. So, delighted with the opportunities we took,” Gregory gushed.
The away team went into the half-time break trailing by one goal, but turned things around in dramatic fashion in the second half to eventually claim a victory. Chennaiyin head coach John Gregory
was a happy man during the post-match press conference as he lauded his boys’ effort.
“Well, it’s been a long time coming. I personally think we’ve played in some very close matches and we haven’t really got the results that we deserved. Some of our football has been excellent and we’ve never really got a break. We gave away a couple of goals due to mistakes at the back and consequently, they’ve proved vital. But today (Tuesday), I think, things changed a little bit as our boys never lost their desire or their professionalism even though we were 0-1 down. They continued to keep playing.”
He also praised the team for its character in face of adverse conditions and revealed, “We’ve had 6-7 boys who had a virus in the last week or so. They played two games. One on Saturday and one again (on Tuesday). Calderon was in the hospital on Saturday after the game. He had to go away from the ground in an ambulance to be treated. There have been few of them that have been sick with various viruses and sicknesses. But they kept going and they all wanted to play. That’s the beauty of some of these guys.”
After opting to leave club captain Mailson Alves on the bench in Chennaiyin’s last few matches, Gregory gave the Brazilian a start against FCPC and he proved to be the inspiration the team needed. Alves not only scored the equaliser, but also provided the assist for the second goal. “I had my no. 27 back in the team and he certainly was a little bit more like he was last season. He scored a goal and defended particularly well. And it was good to see the old Mailson back again. So, delighted with the opportunities we took,” Gregory gushed.