Defender bikash yumnam

Indian Super League: Having already sealed their berth in the playoffs after a sensational hat-trick of wins, in-form Chennaiyin FC will take on FC Goa in their final league stage game of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.

Chennaiyin FC produced all-round performances in their last three matches as all their seven goals were scored by different players, ensuring the team’s place in the playoffs after four years. The Marina Machans also became the first ISL side to register three consecutive comeback wins and head coach Owen Coyle feels that his men can take confidence from this impressive achievement as it’s always the real test of character when the football pressure is on.

While addressing the media ahead of Sunday’s clash, Coyle said: “In terms of the football club and the fans particularly, of course it’s a terrific boost. But it’s only the first step on the journey as far as I’m concerned. I’m a champion. I’m used to winning things. That’s what I like to do. I’ve done it all over the world. I’ve done it here in India. We’ll do it again. We always trusted. We knew. It’s never how you start; it’s how you finish in football. People remember how you finish games. And that’s what we had to make sure.”