Stimac has already set the Indian team in an attacking mould, says Sanjoy Sen

I-League winning coach Sanjoy Sen feels Igor Stimac has moulded the Indian team to play an enterprising attacking style of football.

Igor Stimac's debut game as India coach ended in a 1-3 loss to Curacao in the King's Cup on Wednesday.

The Indian team showed the right attacking attitude and took an important step forward despite losing to Curacao in the King's Cup in Igor Stimac's first game incharge on Wednesday, feels I-League winning coach Sanjoy Sen.

“We have seen India play more defensively under Stephen Constantine but the new team under Stimac showed signs to come out of that defensive mentality. That is the positive aspect about the Indian team which impressed me,” said Sen, who is currently the assistant coach of Indian Super League club ATK.

READ | India falls prey to Curacao in Igor Stimac's first test

“Stimac has already made his stance clear by setting the team in an attacking mould right from the start. And that became evident in the way the team played a much better second half against a relatively unknown opponent,” Sen, one of the most successful names among the Indian coaches, said.

As many as six players were handed debuts on Wednesday and Sen felt the new players will take time to adapt to the national team fold. “There are lot of new names in the team and they will need some time to adapt to the system of the new coach. I am talking about the likes of Sahal (Abdul), (Lallianzuala) Chhangte and (Michael) Soosairaj among others, who need some time to fit into the system.”

The veteran coach stated that though the side conceded three goals, its attacking approach much be lauded.

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“India conceded the goals because of some silly mistakes or slips in man-marking but let’s not get into criticism so early in the coach’s tenure. Overall the team impressed by showing an attacking frame of mind, which is good for its future,” he said.

“Being a former colony of the Netherlands, Curacao definitely showed a better pedigree but we have to appreciate the fact that India showed the positive intent to take the fight back to the opposition. It is better than losing by a smaller margin by playing a defensive game,” the former Mohun Bagan coach added.