Playing at the Furnace will be a blockbuster with the kind of support from fans,” declares Jamshedpur FC head coach Scott Cooper

The Men of Steel face East Bengal FC in opening tie in Calcutta tomorrow

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Sept 24: Though Jamshedpur FC’s opening fixture Indian Super League (2034-24)  is an away one but head coach Scott Cooper is looking forward to the team playing at the Furnace.

Very  much aware about the immense fan support at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur, the Irish-English manager wasted little time in declaring that it (playing at home) will be a blockbuster with the kind of support from the fans.

“I never mind playing at away first because I always think like there is some kind of unchartered pressure about playing at home first, it’s never really a normal game, so I actually don’t mind playing away for the first game, I am actually quite pleased.

However, saying that I am definitely looking forward to the team playing at The Furnace as soon as we can. It’s going to be a blockbuster with the type of support we have here in Jamshedpur,” Cooper said in an interview ahead of the opening tie versus East Bengal FC in Calcutta tomorrow (September 25).

Jamshedpur will hit the greens at the Furnace for their second outing versus Hyderabad FC on October 5.

On the squad’s overall response from previous season’s result, Cooper said: “With all due respect to Aidy (Boothroyd) and the team last year, well they didn’t finish just 10th, they finished the regular season 10th, but they did quite well in the Super Cup – they had a good run reaching the semi-finals. I think they had some misfortune last year as well and it’s always difficult when that happens during the season”.

According to him, the pre-season’s gone well, “we get to know all the faces, bring everyone together. New Indian players, new foreign players, new system, new philosophy, so everything has been coming together nicely. We are looking forward to the season and I think we are in good place.”

On his takeaways from pre-season, Cooper added: “I would say, team unity is one and a very important one at that. Secondly, from what I have been seeing on the pitch so far, I think we have got some immense talent that the fans and the league will be soon discovering, so do watch out for that.”

The Men of Steel head coach requested the fans to just stick with his team: “Just stick with us. I am eager to see you all at the The Furnace and will be pushing hard every second, every minute of every game. We will do our best and hopefully you can drag us to some wins inside The Furnace and outside.