Chennaiyin FC Coach Marco Materrazi says the team has good depth this time around and hopes to make a winning start to the league. The Italian, in an email interview to the Sportstar, says his decision to sign two players for each position will keep the squad fresh through the season. Edited excerpts:
Your thoughts on Atletico de Kolkata...
They are a very strong team. Will be difficult to play against but we hope to make a winning start.
Atletico’s Borja Fernandes made the most number of tackles last time and was instrumental in breaking up the attacks. Do you have any specific plans for him?
Not really. We will have a plan for their whole team.
Fikru Lemessa was penalised many times for his aggression last season. Did you ask him tone down a bit or you want his aggression up front?
Aggression is the very feature of Fikru’s game. You take that away and he won’t be the same player. Yes it is important to not cross the line but he is a very important player for us. Don’t forget it was actually his team that won the ISL last time.
Two good players for each position sound good. But this may create unrest in the dressing room...
It is very important to have strength in depth as often the recovery time between matches is very less.
You have signed more ball-winning midfielders (Thoi Singh and Raphael Augusto) this time around. Was it a conscious effort or it just happened?
We have a very good set of midfielders including Thoi and Augusto.
Tell us about your new defenders Eder Monteiro and Mailson Alves…
Both are very reliable defenders but with different qualities. Eder has immense experience while Mailson is still very young and thus has the potential to get much better.
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