Nicolai Adam: 'Boys ran out of steam'

"We had a much better balance between offence and defence. Youth football is too emotional. So it’s important the boys need to balance it," said Nicolai Adam, after the match.

Indian U-16 team players celebrate after scoring a goal against Saudi Arabia.

Indian U-17 World Cup Coach Nicolai Adam said that his boys were able to strike a “better balance” between offence and defence against Saudi Arabia. Nicolai was speaking at the Official post-match Press Conference after the Group A league match between the two teams in the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 ended 3-3 on Sunday.

“We had a much better balance between offence and defence. Youth football is too emotional. So it’s important the boys need to balance it,” he said. “Emotions will always be there but on the pitch it’s the balance which is most essential,” he added.

Nicolai admitted the boys did “run out of steam” a bit.

“Yes, we did run out of steam a bit. Some of the boys did suffer from cramps. Honestly, I am not used to seeing that. It also depicts the quality of Saudi Arabia as a team. They are a very good team,” he maintained only to add, “Or maybe, we didn’t control our steam in our first match. Maybe, that had an effect.”

Nicolai also stated that the match has it’s “moments.”

“The match has its own moments and emotions. There were people in the stands. Tomorrow is a Monday and people will go to their offices and schools and I’m sure they will speak about the match. It was a sort of spectacle,” he quipped.