Super Cup | John Gregory slams AIFF after Chennaiyinâs loss in Cup final
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After losing the Super Cup final to FC Goa, Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory has criticised the All India Football Federation for the hectic schedule of the Super Cup. Gregory even said that the Chennai-based club had to travel all the way to Bhubaneswar only to accept walk-over against Aizwal.
After finishing at the bottom of the table in the Indian Super League (ISL), Chennaiyin bettered their performance to reach the final of the second edition of the Super Cup in Bhubaneswar. The Marina Machans, however, had to face a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the ISL runners-up FC Goa in the final on Saturday. Now, their coach has criticised the organisers - AIFF - for the scheduling of the knock-out tournament which took place from April 1 to April 13. The Chennayin team had also travelled to Odisha on March 16 for the qualifying round game against Aizwal FC which was not played and they got a walk-over.
âWe had to fly one day to accept a walkover. handed the team sheet in, hung all the kits out, checked our accreditation and there is nobody in the other dressing room. It is a bit ridiculous but I have come to accept it, have to say. We have to go on with it and canât do anything about it. I am not a member of the AIFF,â Gregory was quoted as saying by Goal.com.
âThey [Chennaiyin FC players] gave everything, which is what you ask as a coach. We are disappointed we did not manage to win the game. It has been our fourth game in 10 days. Do the math. It is a ridiculous schedule for us. It was pretty evident in the last minutes, we had some tired legs on the field.â
After losing the final against FC Goa, Gregory said that his boys played well and converted chances that they got in the first three games of the Super Cup which was not the case for him during the final against the Gaurs. He also said that the players were tired to chase the ball towards the end of the final match.
âIn the three games we played in Super Cup, we got chances and we took them. We didnât do that today and thatâs football. They passed the ball very well, my team was tired towards the end, having to chase the ball against a team like Goa.
"We didnât have to do that against ATK. Goa
