Coach Shameel discusses the crucial decider against Army Red

Having started their Durand Cup campaign with a win over Assam Rifles, Hyderabad FC fell to a fighting loss against Gokulam Kerala in the last round. This has left them needing a positive result to ensure qualification to the knockout stages of the competition when they take on Army Red on Sunday.

Ahead of this game, Reserve Team Head Coach Shameel Chembakath discussed the previous results, the upcoming challenges and more…

Performance of his side against GKFC…

First of all, I think we played really well. It was an excellent game by the boys and I can’t praise the team enough for their resilience. There is a lot to discuss the game and most of it is only positive.

We looked confident and comfortable with the ball, played some really good football but we were unfortunate to have lost the opportunity to take the points. But we still have a chance to perform and get back into the tournament.

The difference in quality between the squads…

Gokulam Kerala came into the game with an experienced lineup and it speaks a lot during tough games. So, there is a difference in quality between the squads if you compare.

But our team now looks better. The boys look more united and play as a team. Now they are also gathering experience which will help them improve even further and be ready for such challenges in the future.

💪 A valiant effort from the boys who fell just short, in the end against the defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC…#GKFCHFC #DurandCup2021 #HyderabadFC 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/0enAhlGhWv

— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) September 17, 2021

The effect of the red card…

Yes, it was an advantage for us but it is hard luck that we were already trailing by a goal. We got hold of the ball, dominated for periods and also created a couple of opportunities.

We failed to find the back of the net, which became tougher as the opponents were focused on their defensive duties. Sometimes it becomes tougher to break the team down which has ten men. But I think we were solid at the back and had a good game throughout.

Getting over the defeat…

We know that sometimes it is tough when you face defeats like these. But the best part is that the experience it teaches you. These youngsters have great things waiting for them but for now, we are completely focused on our next game.

What to expect from the next game…

We know that it is a tough challenge in front of us against Army Red. It’s a decisive game, and we will go in with a strong mindset and maintain our competitive attitude for another game. We will try our very best and fight till the end. I expect a strong performance from the boys.