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ISL, Bengaluru FC vs Chennaiyin FC: Showed a lot of balls today, I'll probably have Corona: Gregory

ISL: Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory feels his team never backed down in the 3-2 win over Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League final.

John Gregory, Chennaiyin FC coach

Bengaluru, March 18: Chennaiyin FC coach John Gregory feels his team never backed down and showed a lot of grit to rally after being a goal down and stun Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League final on Saturday (March 17). Chennaiyin FC defeated Bengaluru FC 3-2 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium and clinched their second ISL title.

Final 5 moments</a> | <a class=ISL results" title="Final 5 moments | ISL results" />Final 5 moments | ISL results

"We showed a lot of balls today," Gregory said. "We were 1-0 down and we came back. Playing in front of your home crowd in your home ground is a huge advantage. It's a big obstacle to overcome and distinct advantage to the home team. You can hear the noise downstairs... I personally think it has been a success. I believe the season has been a success for Chennaiyin FC. The format has worked out well for us."

Chennaiyin FC players with the Indian Super League trophy (Image: ISL Media)

Talking about how he will celebrate the win, Gregory said: I have no idea. "I just know that we'll certainly celebrate at the hotel tonight. We'll have food. As I got older, you enjoy these moments so much better when you are sober. I might just have a corona. Maybe so. I want to enjoy tonight because I can't put it into words. It hasn't sunk in yet. I might even cry."

Chennaiyin FC finished the league stage second on 32 points, eight behind leaders Bengaluru FC. Yet they managed to win the championship after beating Bengaluru in the final. When asked if Gregory preferred the format, he said: "Many countries play this format. Play-offs were first introduced in UK more than 20 years ago. You can finish sixth in the division and still get promoted from the championship to Premier League via play-offs. And this even though you could have finished 20 points behind the third. Under the old system, the top-three would be promoted. When play-offs were introduced in the UK, I was there. We (Aston Villa) finished sixth and beat Portsmouth, who were third and long way ahead of us. Format is brilliant. I was disappointed with the words that you used. I think we got the cup, didn't we?"

Gregory's counterpart, Bengaluru FC manager Albert Roca, said his team cannot complain about the format now after finishing as runners.

"It's too easy for me to say yes, (the format is unfair)," Roca said. "I think even them - the players came to us and said we should be in that situation. At the moment it is like what it is. And we cannot change that. It's a shame but it is not me to say whether fair or not. You should say as a journalist. We knew that (about the play-offs) at the beginning, even after we finished first in the league phase. We knew how it's possible for us to give our opponents a chance to win the title after a good season. It's like this and we cannot change it now. Congrats to Chennaiyin FC again and they did well. They were luckier than us today."

Story first published: Sunday, March 18, 2018, 0:21 [IST]
Other articles published on Mar 18, 2018