As Steve Coppell and Jose Molina sat for their pre-final interaction with the media, there was an air of graciousness between them. These were two coaches sharing a mutual regard and respect for each other's work.
Atletico de Kolkata's Molina made it a point to highlight time and again that "sorry, my English isn't the best," but there was no question of misinterpreting his admiration for what Coppell had achieved with his Kerala Blasters side. Coppell also had strong praise for his opposite number, being particularly impressed by Molina's courage to make a staggering nine changes in the second leg of the semifinal against Mumbai City FC.
Two months ago, it was hard to imagine that these two men would be sharing the stage ahead of the final of the third edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).
Kerala lost their first two matches of the season, before following it up with a goalless draw at home against Delhi Dynamos. They failed to score a single goal in those three games and showed little invention going forward, prompting early talk as to whether Coppell would join the likes of David Platt, Trevor Morgan and Terry Phelan as failed English managers in the ISL.
Coppell, though, was hell bent on succeeding.
"I am puzzled why English coaches are not successful here," he said after the Delhi draw. "But I am determined to reverse that trend. When I was appointed as manager, I spent a couple of sleepless nights, thinking very, very seriously about it."
Coppell did think very, very seriously about it. He found a 4-2-3-1 system that worked and got the best out of his midfield and defense. It yielded six straight home wins, including a crucial 1-0 victory in the first leg of the semifinal against Delhi Dynamos. Kerala finished second in the league, despite having a negative goal-difference and scoring only 13 goals.
Kolkata did not shake up any trees in the league season either, barely making the playoffs in fourth spot, their lowest league finish in the ISL. They won the fewest matches among the top four, but had just enough resolve and experience to get through crunch situations. And they did it under a new, foreign coach.
That's what Kerala and Kolkata have been all about this season - resilience. Their emphasis has been less on swashbuckling football, and more on getting the right results.
Every player is well aware of his task in the side. Who will fill in for a full-back making an overlap? Which midfielder is responsible for man-marking the opposition playmaker? Do you maintain a high line or sit deep and invite pressure? Should a striker press from the front or look to make himself free for a counter? Everything is planned and plotted well in advance.
CK Vineeth, for instance, admitted that he had been a "bit lazy" before working under Coppell. But since joining Kerala after his exploits with Bengaluru FC in the AFC Cup, Vineeth has been tireless, chasing after loose balls and haggling defenders even when not in possession of the ball.
It showed in the way the two teams approached their respective semifinals against more fancied opposition. Both teams won their first leg at home by a single goal and got through the second by defending in two banks of four.
The only difference was, Kolkata were a man down against Mumbai; Kerala were a man up against Delhi.
Robert Lalthlamuana's expulsion in the first half meant Molina's hand was forced, as he replaced winger Abhinash Ruidas with specialist full-back Keegan Pereira to ensure Kolkata maintained their shape. With Juan Belencoso available in attack for an out-ball, Borja Fernandez stepping in at center-back, and winger Javi Lara instructed to recycle possession rather than create, Molina ensured that Mumbai barely had a shot on goal.
"Every coach has to try to make certain decisions for a particular game," Molina explained. "That's what I tried to do. (Despite all the changes) we still had some chances in the second leg.
"Watching my team train from the first day and with all the work hard they have been putting in, we are always improving. Every player wants to help the team, but I have to make some harsh decisions. I can play only 11 at a time."
Coppell's tactics in his second leg against Delhi were harder to understand. Despite having a man advantage for more than an hour, Kerala chose not to exploit Delhi's tired legs. Instead, they withdrew deeper and deeper to the point where only last-ditch defending kept them in the tie, with Sandesh Jhingan heroically clearing the ball off the line, and keeper Sandip Nandy called to make three important saves.
Kerala, though, ultimately got the job done in penalties, and Coppell later explained himself.
"We were playing away from home. Our goal was to go through. Of course, the best way for us was to win it in 90 minutes. We played a 4-2-4 for at least 30 minutes of the second half and I can't see how we could be more all out than 4-2-4 and not leave ourselves vulnerable at the back. So as far I am concerned we were as positive as we could be."
Coppell also brought up an interesting point about the ISL's rules for the playoffs. Normally, the team that finishes higher in the table gets to play their second leg at home. However, despite Kerala finishing above Delhi, the Kochi leg was held first. The second leg was made even harder by the fact that the ISL does not count away goals, meaning if the score is tied on aggregate after 90 minutes, the game goes into extra time.
"I think having two legs gives the right advantage to the team that finishes higher up the league. But when it's turned around, then you probably could have the semifinal at a neutral venue. So the league has made it very difficult for us and we have to overcome that. But I'm not going to complain about that right now."
At the moment, both coaches have their sights firmly locked on Sunday's title showdown, but in many ways, Coppell and Molina have already made a difference to Indian football by making full use of the local talent available at their disposal.
CK Vineeth, Mehtab Hossain and Jhingan have all been mainstays in the Kerala XI, while Debjit Majumder, Pritam Kotal, Jewel Raja and Ruidas have all gotten significant game time for Kolkata.
Coppell and Molina, though, both felt that the higher-ups of Indian football have to do a lot more to develop the sport and ensure promising talents did not slip through the cracks.
"I'm happy to be here, but you have to wonder about the legacy of the ISL," Coppell said. "Is it to develop young footballers, or just a 12-week experience that you put to bed and go to the next one?
"India needs a lot more young people. There are 1.2 billion people here and lots want to play, but (are) unable to due to lack of facilities. If the ISL was involved in creating more facilities for young players, that would help them.
"Indian football is very insular. The players need more experience to develop. Technically, they have the capabilities to go a lot better. A player plays 30 games a season here, whereas internationally, they play 40 a season. Indian players are ready to take the next step. They just need the experience."
The players will certainly be in for a special experience when they take to the field at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Incidentally, Kolkata are the only team to have beaten Kerala in Kochi this season, though Iain Hume, who played in yellow in 2014, had a quiet game.
"I think as an ex-Kerala player, Hume doesn't want to score," Coppell joked.
"He will tomorrow," Molina chimed right back.
Expect more fireworks from the two on the sidelines on Sunday evening.