The Gaffer talks about the team’s performance against FC Goa, the squad quality this season, team strategy against the City of Nizams and much more as the team is set to face their next challenge of the season, Hyderabad FC.
Here are the excerpts from the pre-match press conference:
Thoughts on the team’s performance against FC Goa
I think what’s important is the overall team performance as we were amazing against a good FC Goa side. If we want to go on and win many games, then we have to defend well. We were also positive with our attacks which were full of pace. Everything worked out really well for us but the game is finished and is behind us now. We now have to focus on a real tough game ahead of us against Hyderabad FC who have an outstanding Head Coach. With 2 games drawn in the last season, we will aim to grab the 3 points this time, and they will look for the same as well. So, I think it’s going to be a very good game with two positive teams competing.
With numerous attacking players in our squad, can we expect to see a more attacking style of football from the team?
We certainly were a good side last season, but we needed to add an attacking edge to the team. But, not being dismissive against the ball is something that we have to make sure, equally. So as most things are in football, we need to find the right balance in attacking and defence-wise as well, but the great thing is that we have plenty of options this year, options in respect to the type of changes we wanted to make for which we did not really have the firepower to do that. But, this season we do have very good options on our side and I wish that they stay fit till the end to give us plenty of options and as a Head Coach, that’s what we want as they are all wonderful players. There is competition for spots in the team in the forward positions and by the performances they have shown, it is obvious that they want to be in the team and that is great for a Head coach.
On Alex Lima’s performance this season
Alex Lima has been outstanding. He carried an injury last year and fair play to him, he took some painkiller injections last year to play for the team, showing the size of a heart he possesses. But now that he is fully fit, he is showing what an outstanding player he is as well, someone who can play in various positions, can tackle well and work hard against the ball. He is just a perfect all-round modern day midfielder who can score a goal, tackle to win balls and can pass really well which shows that he is a wonderful player.
On the youngsters that Hyderabad FC possess in their squad this season
Hyderabad showed that they have some terrific talents on their side with Chinglensana Singh at centre-back, Asish Rai, Akash Mishra who are very good players and the lads are wonderful on the ball and can pass the ball forward well. They have a terrific balance of young Indian players along with some experienced foreign players with Bartholomew (Ogbeche) who has always impressed me with his abilities in football, along with other wonderful players. So they will get the utmost respect from us as a team. They also have a wonderful coach, someone I like very much, who has been an outstanding footballing man and even he knows when the match begins, we both will be looking to win it. It’s going to be a tough game for both teams, but we have to aim to come out on the right side of the margins and if we do, we feel it's a game that we can win.
Thoughts on the club’s approach on countering Hyderabad’s attacking style of football
To be in the league, one has to play different styles of football and I won’t say that they play the same as FC Goa, but they can come up with other sorts of problems as their forward and midfield line-up is very pleasing along with the full-backs that join in on the attack. So they do have some really threatening attackers and we will be very respectful of that, but we have to equally make sure that we are imposing our game on them to bring out our best qualities. If we manage to do that, we will cause problems for the opposition as well.
How interesting would this clash be, considering the teams came back stronger in their second fixture after a disappointing first game of the season?
Both are very good teams. I take issue with our disappointing first game, but Hyderabad played really well in their first game. That being said, people analyse the game on the final results. But football specialists know that Hyderabad FC were a better team against Chennaiyin FC and would have won the game on any other day. Even though we were the better side against SC East Bengal, we could have won the 3 points. So, I think it is unfair to say they were disappointing in their first game. I can understand that people want to see more points but that is different from saying it was a disappointing game, they are totally two different things. But that being said, they are two very attack-minded teams and have already shown that they can win games in the league. We are ready for their threats because at times they will pass the ball up and put pressure, so, we have to make sure we are focused on doing our job. When we get the opportunity to score, we have to take care of those chances, be offensively attack-minded and be very positive throughout the game.
