Durand Cup 2023: Chennaiyin looks to secure quarter-finals berth against Tribhuwan Army

GUWAHATI: Chennaiyin FC will be aiming to seal its quarter-final spot in the Durand Cup when it takes on Tribhuwan Army in a Group E clash at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Monday.

A win against Tribhuwan Army will earn Chennaiyin FC direct qualification into the last eight of the tournament. Currently, the Marina Machans sit on top of the group table with three points after a come-from-behind victory against Hyderabad FC in the last match where Jordan Murray scored his first goal for the club.

Murray feels the team needs to continue with its remarkable performance in the forthcoming match against Tribhuwan Army.

“Considering the fact that coach Owen Coyle came into the team fold just recently, we played very well. I thought we put up a really good performance and showed a true fighting spirit after going a goal down against Hyderabad FC. The team is sticking together as a group and the players know what they need to do in the upcoming match,” commented Murray.

He further added, “We are in a solid position to go into the next round of the tournament. We will put our heads down, play our best game to ensure we get a strong result and qualify for the next round.”

On the other hand, head coach Owen Coyle feels the next match will see tough competition between both teams and Chennaiyin FC will only aim for a victory to solidify its top position in the group. “The boys worked very hard in the last match which was really important. We showed great character and belief in what we are trying to do, it’s very early days as we are trying to build and progress day by day, working hard in the training, and looking to take it into the games and the Durand Cup is the ideal preparation for that,” Coyle commented.

“The upcoming match will be a tough one. I watched them (Tribhuwan Army) against Delhi. They are a fit, dynamic, and strong side. We must try to continue to pass and move the ball and score some good goals. We also know that if we win the game, we’ll already win the group even ahead of the third game. So, that’s a great incentive to make sure that we do our job right,” concluded the Head Coach.

The ongoing 132nd edition of the Durand Cup includes a total of 24 teams from the ISL, I-League, and the Armed Forces which have been divided into six groups of four teams. The top team from each group and the two best second-placed teams across all six groups will be progressing to the quarter-final.