ISL 2022-23: We’re still aiming for the top six – Jamshedpur FC head coach Aidy Boothroyd

Jamshedpur FC head coach Aidy Boothroyd is still hopeful of making the playoff stages despite a poor start in the ongoing season of the Hero Indian Super League. Jamshedpur FC have got off to a horrid start in the ongoing season of the Hero ISL as they have managed a solitary win out of the 10 games they have played.

The Red Miners have suffered eight losses and they are struggling at the 10th place in the standings with only four points under their belt.

Jamshedpur FC had won the League Shield in the previous season as they had topped the league stage but they haven’t been able to replicate the same show.

Aidy Boothroyd spoke to the press before their Thursday match against FC Goa at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur.

Sharing his thoughts on the ongoing season, Aidy Boothroyd said, “I find this season so far horrific. I think it’s been a very, very tough few months for everybody. In terms of how we change it around and how we can get back to winning ways? I would say that the key thing is that the players. Getting the right players so we’ll be active in January (transfer window) and rebuild, and go again.”

The Englishman revealed he has received great support from the management despite not getting the desired results. However, Boothroyd reckons it has been a combination of different reasons behind his team’s poor showing.

Boothroyd said, “First of all, I have to say that the support that I’ve had from within the club and outside the club personally has been fantastic so that’s very much appreciated. In terms of where the club is up, Greg Stewart, the best player in the league, is leaving and going to (another team) in the same league, in my opinion has made a big difference. Pronay (Halder) who was with us before leaving, was a key player. In terms of the players (with us), some of the players were just at the tip of starting to be too old to play and it’s fair to say that some of the most senior players in the team made the most mistakes earlier on in the season.”

He added, “There is never one reason. There’s always lots of different reasons. In terms of a spark, I think in a lot of our games the mistakes that were made were avoidable. Where we are right now in terms of the team, the team is reforming, so bringing Rafa (Crivellaro) in, is a big plus for us. Vishal Yadhav has got a very, very bright future ahead of him and he is obviously in the team keeping TP Rehenesh out, who is obviously a very good goalkeeper as well. So we’ve got some competition for places as players are coming back. We’ve got injured players going back.”

He continued, “Laldinpuia trained fully on Wednesday and is fit. Germanpreet (Singh) is still injured, still struggling, but we’re getting players back. We are bringing players in and in January, we will be able to bring plays in as well. So the club is at a place where it’s tough. It is very tough at the moment, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel. An example of Vishal Yadhav being in the team is a great example of the way that the club is going in and how we’re working.”

Revealing his goal for the rest of the season, Boothroyd said, “I think when January comes, you’ll see a different team. I think you’ll see a team that can attack, without being afraid of scoring goals, which will be a lot more mature and we’re still aiming for that top-six spot like everybody else is. It will be a tough call. But I think we can do it, providing we get what we need to finish the job off. We’ve got to a point where we are in the halfway point this season and we get a chance to play all the opponents that we played once again so it’s in our hands. If we beat those teams and we put ourselves back in the season.”