ISL 2017-18: Why Jamshedpur FC should not be criticised for their defensive mindset

Football can be played in many ways. The fact that there are so many paths which can be trodden to attain glory is what makes it the beautiful game.

Indian Super League (ISL) has witnessed two teams, picking up points using two extremely different methods. On one side, you have Sergio Lobera's FC Goa passing the opponents out of the park to produce goal-fests and three points. Then, at the opposite end of the spectrum, there is Jamshedpur FC.

FC Goa have played beautiful football and are fifth in the ISL standings, having scored a league-best 20 goals from eight games. Jamshedpur have only notched four goals and yet, they find themselves one place below Goa in the sixth position, only three points off the most attacking team in the league.

"We have worked hard to be a good defensive unit from day one and if that's the label people give us, that is okay,” stated Jamshedpur FC head coach Steve Coppell after his side picked up a 1-0 win over Bengaluru FC in December. 

Criticise his side all you want but the former Kerala Blasters head coach does not care. He will be happy with regular one-goal wins as long as the team climbs up the league table and cements qualification to the knock-out rounds. Attack and defence are two sides of the same coin and the latter does not get enough attention in modern football while the former hogs all the limelight. This is evident in the manner in which Goa have been praised and according to several critics, they are among the favourites to win the title. Why? Because their attacking style of play is pleasing to the eye.

However, equally effective is Coppell's brand of football where he prefers to keep his defence sturdy while making the best of the chances they create. Yes, they haven't scored enough goals but at the end of the day, they are just three points behind FC Goa.

Coppell stated last season that if a team's defence is sorted, there will always be at least a couple of chances coming your way no matter how poor your side's creativity is. 

Defending is easy, said Brendan Rodgers once. Is it really? So much of focus and attention to detail is required in setting up an organized defence. Steve Coppell's men have done their duties well. They have only let in four goals from eight games - 0.5 goals per game! And that includes five clean sheets. While gloating down upon the goalscoring statistics, let us not forget how incredible Jamshedpur's league-best defensive stats are. 

When Gaurs take on the Men of Steel on Thursday (January 11, 2018), it will be an interesting battle between two teams with contrasting styles. It will be a battle of the tactical nous of two incredible minds at play in ISL this season. One thing is for sure, Jamshedpur won't change their style for anybody and Steve Coppell will gladly take a 1-0 win back home from Goa.