ISL 2022-23: I think we were the better team – Jamshedpur FC head coach Aidy Boothroyd

Jamshedpur FC head coach Aidy Boothroyd believes his team was better than Bengaluru FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur on Wednesday after suffering a 3-0 loss. Rohit Kumar, Roy Krishna, and Sivasakthi Narayanan found themselves on the scoring sheet for the Blues as they gave three crucial points to their team.

The home team had 52% of possession and took a total of four shots on target but they did not convert a single one of them. In fact, the Men of Steel took 13 shots off-target against the Blues.

“With a high percentage of (shots) what we got today, I thought it was very, very good. I think we were the better team. The first half, crosses, shots.. (we had) something like 22 shots in the game but the one that counts is the team that can keep the clean sheets and win and unfortunately for all our great efforts, it’s just our final end product. We create chances but we don’t convert and if you don’t convert, you don’t win.” Boothroyd said in the official post-match conference.

Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC has conceded a total of 28 goals in the 15 matches they have played. Thus, they have a goal difference of -15 and the Englishman feels the team needs to work on their defensive play.

“I think it’s an issue well, clearly we are conceding too many goals. Our centre-back was injured, and our replacement centre-back was suspended. So those two things do make a difference but I should say that the team should work defensively. And that’s how you keep clean sheets and the difference between us and them today. Because they managed to defend better than we did. So we’ve got some work to do.” he added.

Jamshedpur FC’s progress this season has been hampered by injuries to key players. Boothroyd believes it is not easy to stick to one formation when there are injury woes in the squad.

“I think it’s very difficult to settle on a formation if you’re losing players to injuries. I think it’s very difficult if you get into a position where you have players suspended and you have to adapt. So my thinking and my philosophy would be that if you’ve got players within there, they might need help that you play five at the back rather than four, simple. But they’ll also be times when you have to balance out the team and ask players to do things that they don’t normally do. And that’s where we have been this year, we haven’t had a settled team and it will be great to have a settled team. Going forward, that’s what we have to do. We just keep working towards that next win, keep working towards scoring goals and to keep clean sheets.” Boothroyd said.

“In terms of style, which is important. I think we are a good team to watch but we don’t take our chances and therefore people get nervous and we concede, it’s confidence. For me, it’s frustrating because I know they can do what I ask them to do, whatever formation they’re asked. It’s the style,” he added.

Jamshedpur FC will next take on table-toppers Mumbai City FC on 27th January at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur.