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The 2018-19 Indian Super League season continued to spiral for Chennaiyin FC on Sunday as they went down 2-3 at home to ATK. The defeat was their 7th of the season in just 10 games for the defending champions. The result also keeps Chennaiyin winless at home in five matches (1 draw, 4 losses).
It was to be another game of ‘what ifs’ for Chennaiyin as they continued their season-long profligacy in front of goal, spurning numerous chances to score.
Former Chennaiyin player Jayesh Rane opened the scoring with a terrific long-range strike that left keeper Sanjiban Ghosh beaten all ends up. But Chennaiyin hit back through Thoi Singh’s well-struck effort low into the right corner.
ATK then scored through two penalties, one in each half (44th and 80th minutes), to take a 3-1 lead as Manuel Lanzarote sent the keeper the wrong way both times.
Isaac Vanmalsawma grabbed a second for Chennaiyin in the 88th minute that briefly gave the home crowd some hope of a dramatic equalizer, but it wasn’t to be as the game finished 3-2 in favour of ATK, the Chennaiyin players sinking to their feet at the final whistle thanks to yet another loss.
Even before Rane’s opening strike and through the game Chennaiyin failed to make the most of their chances created with almost every player in the forward area guilty without exception. Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua had another poor game. Left-back Jerry Lalrinzuala was withdrawn at half-time in favour of Tondomba Singh as the former seemed to struggle under the weight of expectations.
The disappointment was writ large on the face of their coach John Gregory.
“It’s just not going well for us at the moment,” said Gregory. “Disappointing to come away with nothing as our goalkeeper literally had nothing to do in the second half. When you get chances you have to take them, that’s the difference between winning and losing. There were chances for us even before Jayesh scored.”
“It was no doubt a terrific goal, but he never scored one like that for us and likely won’t for ATK again in a long while. It was just something special. And obviously before their penalty too we had chances.”
But he refused to point fingers at anyone and said that it was his job to get results and that he’s going to ‘take it on the chin and stand up for my team.’
Asked if he would contemplate going for a complete overhaul of his forward line, the coach pointed to the fact that almost every player had been used.
“When you’re not winning you try to make improvements. There are a few players in my squad who can come to me and say I haven’t given them an opportunity. But they would just be squad players. I’ve given Jeje, Carlos (Salom), Thoi, Isaac, basically everybody a chance. There aren’t too many players who can say that they’ve not been given opportunities.”
Gaining any momentum has been a struggle and with just 8 games remaining in the regular season Chennaiyin are on the brink of getting knocked out of the playoff race. Asked if the poor run of results had put pressure on him and his team he said, “I try and shield my team from any pressure so that they can focus on the playing and enjoying their football. I’ve been in this business long enough; at my age I don’t feel any pressure.”
He said more than pressure it was the disappointment that he was finding hard to manage.
“Just huge disappointment is what I actually feel for everyone at the club. I carry the disappointment and the hurt. Having had the amazing 12 months that I did prior to September, it hurts even more. Tonight’s result will stay with me for a few days. It won’t go away easily,” said Gregory.
He also refused to throw in the towel as far as the playoffs were concerned despite the bleak outlook.
“We obviously have to pray for a miracle. Now we have only a maximum of 24 points we can win. But as always we just have to keep playing and see how things go. By the end of the month I think we’ll know how our playoff chances look.”
Chennaiyin next play Mumbai City FC on Thursday in Mumbai.
