Former champions Chennaiyin FC will look to notch up a win and finish third in the Indian Super League standings when they face NorthEast U...
Former champions Chennaiyin FC will look to notch up a win and finish third in the Indian Super League standings when they face NorthEast United FC in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Chennaiyin are currently fourth on the table with 28 points, two shy of third-placed Bengaluru FC. A draw or a defeat for Chennaiyin in the final game of the league phase of this ISL would mean that they would face toppers FC Goa in the playoffs.
Should they pick up a win over NorthEast at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, a battle with second-placed ATK awaits them in the two-legged semi-finals.
A lot would depend on Owen Coyle’s plans and whether he would look to hand an opportunity to his fringe players.
Lucian Goian, Rafael Crivellaro and Nerijus Valskis have picked up three yellow cards this season and one more in the final league game would mean that they miss the first leg of the play-offs. It is highly unlikely that Coyle will take that risk by fielding them on Tuesday.
“First of all, we want to win the game. We have three boys on three yellow cards. It will be really naive to put them on and take a risk. So those players will be rested. Ultimately, you have...
