A struggling Chennaiyin FC will look for a rare win when it hosts FC Pune City in an Indian Super League clash here on Saturday with an eye on gaining some much-needed momentum going into the Super Cup and the AFC Cup.
Last season it seemed like head coach John Gregory and his players could do no wrong as they comfortably won the title. However, the story has been far from rosy this time around. The defending champion has managed all of one win and is at the very bottom of the ISL table.
CFC's defence, which let in only 19 goals last season, has already conceded a league-high 25 goals. Captain Mailson Alves will be serving the second of his three-match ban while young full-backs Laldinliana Renthlei and Tondonba Singh could be in for another tough test. New signing Christopher Herd, however, should cushion the blow of defender Inigo Calderon's sudden exit.
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Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Gregory agreed that he has started to think about the Super Cup and the AFC Cup as he wants to end the season with some silverware.
"I would love to have a cup triumph to show for at the end of the season. We want to do well in both the cup competitions. Before that, we need to salvage some pride in the league," he said.
The visiting Pune side conceded CFC its only win of the season and the Stallions, who have won their last two games without letting in a goal, should be out for revenge in Phil Brown's first game incharge.
Pune has an outside chance of making it to the playoffs and Brown, who wants to win as many points as possible, looks to do so with a good style of football.
"People will judge me [based] on the style of football and I hope I can impress with the style of football," said Brown, before adding, "The important thing is to take it game by game."
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