Odisha FC head coach TG Purushothaman assures 'Beautiful Football', calls for 'No Excuses' ahead of Inter Kashi match

Odisha FC head coach TG Purushothaman has backed his squad's quality and depth ahead of their Indian Super League (ISL) clash against Inter Kashi.

With several new players in the squad, Purushothaman acknowledged that the team may require a few matches to establish a better understanding on the pitch. However, the coach remains optimistic about the team's progress and believes the players can come together to compete at a higher level.

The Kalinga Warriors lost their first match against Punjab FC and the defeat came with goals conceded in the first and last minute of the match.

"We expected some difficulty in the first match. We conceded in the first and last minute. We were dominating the game after equalizing. This is common at the beginning of the season. We have a good team and we are focusing on that to make the upcoming matches a positive one. The first match is gone, and we won't have any excuse going forward," Purushothaman said at the pre-match press conference.

Purushothaman confident in Odisha FC squad depth

The Odisha FC coach stressed that all 32 players in the squad are capable of contributing, dismissing suggestions that selection revolves around any particular individual, while replying to the absence of Imran Khan from the squad against Punjab FC.

"We have a good squad, and all 32 players are capable of contributing to the team. We have enough depth to rotate players. This is not about Imran Khan or any specific individual. We play as brothers and as a family, and the message is very clear: players who perform will be in the team," Purushothaman said.

He also clarified that his comments should not be interpreted as criticism of Imran Khan, adding that the player has been performing well. The coach said selection decisions will depend on the team's requirements and the circumstances of each match.

Odisha FC need time to build chemistry

Purushothaman also acknowledged that integrating new players takes time, with the coach expecting the team to develop a better understanding over the coming fixtures.

"The chemistry is developing, and everything is coming together. It might take two or three matches for us to fully gel as a team, but I believe we are heading in a positive direction," he said.

Odisha will play Beautiful Football

Despite a losing start, the Kerala-born tactician believes his team will soon commence playing beautiful football and start scoring more goals.

"I'm not making excuses, but it's quite natural that when a team brings in new players, the lack of proper practice matches can have an impact. However, as I have said on different occasions, every club faces different situations and challenges. As professionals, we have to adapt to those situations. That is what is expected of us, and we must overcome every challenge with a positive attitude.

We lost our first match, and we have acknowledged that. But there is no point dwelling on the fact that we didn't get enough practice matches. It was a good learning experience for us, and now our focus is firmly on the next game, which is very important for the team. It's a long league. We will play beautiful football and score more goals," the head coach concluded.

Odisha FC will look to translate that learning into a stronger performance against Inter Kashi, with Purushothaman at the helm hoping for a change in fortunes.