“We don’t have capability to finish the chances,” says Jamshedpur FC coach Cooper after loss to Odisha

The concern was raised by Jamshedpur FC head coach Scott Cooper after his team’s narrow loss to Odisha FC with a 1-0 scoreline in Matchweek 8 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. He mentioned that his team lacks the ability to convert the chances they create.
The Men of Steel suffered their fifth loss of the season against Odisha FC, as Roy Krishna, the Fijian forward, headed in the winning goal for the Kalinga Warriors past Jamshedpur FC goalkeeper Rehenesh TP in the 56th minute of the match. Consequently, Odisha FC climbed to the third position on the table while Jamshedpur FC remained in the tenth position.
Despite creating a multitude of goal-scoring opportunities at home, they were ineffective in front of goal, failing to find the back of the net. Despite delivering impressive performances in most of their recent matches, they consistently suffered narrow defeats, primarily due to issues with completing goals and poor shot conversion.
The Irish-English tactician is frustrated by his team’s consistent poor results despite their strong performances. He feels that his team struggles to capitalize on scoring chances in every game.
“We had 20 chances compared to their 14. It’s the same narrative every game, isn’t it? We create chances. That’s why it’s frustrating,” Cooper stated in the post-match press conference according to an ISL release.
“It’s not about being heavily beaten with 25 per cent or 30 per cent possession and not creating chances. As a coach, club, and team, you have to be concerned when that happens. So it’s like a temporary disappointment, but it’s happening consistently. We don’t want it to be permanent. We are losing games by a single goal, creating more chances than other teams. But we don’t have the ability clearly to complete the chances,” he added.
The head coach expressed further concern regarding his players’ incapacity to convert their chances. Cooper emphasized that addressing this issue is crucial for the team’s success and stressed the need for improvement in finishing.
“I don’t know, tactically we are getting it right. I would say yes, because why would we have possession and chances if we were not getting it right tactically? But I cannot score goals for players. I can only pick the team, give them the tactics and they have to do the rest,” he explained.