The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) has now reached its final leg with Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan already through to the playoffs and the remaining teams battling out for the remaining spots. Gerry Peyton, the Interim Head Coach of Odisha FC, the team currently at the bottom of points table attended the Pre- Match Press Conference ahead of their game against Goa FC and according to a press release by the franchise said that he is ready with a game plan for the home team FC Goa and that it is difficult to play matches in quick succession; however, he will want certain players to be fresh and have legs to do well tomorrow. “They have done well because of which they are at the top of the table. I think all the top teams now, like Mumbai yesterday, are showing a little bit of nerves. We will go there with a gameplan to do well and get a result,” the 64-year-old professional explained. “I think it’s (playing back-to-back games) very difficult because we only finished last night going through all the details. Now I am starting to prepare for the training today with all the information how we are going to play against Goa. That sort of thing – quick succession of games, the physical demands on the players, who is fit and who is not fit, having players fit…. Like last game, I rested Diego (Mauricio) thinking he comes on second half and then I want him fresh for the game against Goa. I want Diego to score two or three goals against Goa. I know I am asking too much, I always ask too much. I want Brad (Inman) fresh and I want certain payers fresh so that we have legs to do well against Goa.” Explaining more about Odisha FC’s plan, he added, “When you look at the second half against NorthEast, we had a high percentage of passing, higher than them. We also had 81% accuracy of passes against Goa, they are a good passing team. I know their tactics; I know how they will play against us. We will play in a certain way. After 15 minutes, we seem to settle down and then start to pass or we start to get our game together. This is going to be important that we start straight from the off.” The Bhubaneswar based side has three games remaining in this edition of the league. Coach Peyton also said that he is now preparing the team for the next ISL season. “We are now preparing Odisha for next season. What I have said to the players is – This is your challenge. If you want to be successful next season then you have to prepare now for next season. Everything you do now is in preparation to get off to a winning start next season. If you don’t prepare now and let this season go, you are still in that state of mind when you start next season. These three games are very important,” he asserted.
