Mumbai City FC’s head coach Peter Reid has football coursing through his veins. The former Sunderland and Manchester City manager’s energy and passion for the game never fail to enthral those around him and his anecdotes always keep the laughter flowing. A much-loved alumnus of Everton, Reid was once fourth in the World Player of the Year list that featured the likes of Diego Maradona and Michel Platini.When the 58-year-old Englishman speaks, it is straight from the heart, and he dives into the first question about his journey in the Hero Indian Super League with gusto: “It has been a terrific journey since I have arrived. I must admit that I did not know a majority of the players except Nicolas Anelka, Freddie Ljungberg and Manuel Friedrich. It has been a learning curve for me during the training sessions and the games, but it has been thoroughly enjoyable.”Asked about how the players are shaping up and coping with the busy schedule, Reid was honest in his response, “I have been slightly disappointed with our defending at times but the boys have been pushing hard and learning all the while. It has been fantastic to see their attitude. I have managed before in Thailand and this role is very similar to my experience there. One major difference in the ISL is that the games come thick and fast. You need to take care that you do not over-train. You should tick over in training. We have been coping pretty well, I’d say.”"I would say that managing and coaching is the second best thing to playing."Peter ReidOn the topic of his transition from a player to manager, the Mumbai head coach immediately travels back in time to reveal, “I was quite lucky at the age of 35 to become the player-manager of Manchester City. It was sort of thrust upon me. I was done with my FA coaching badges when I was 30. I was always planning for it and went on to get my UEFA pro-licences. I like working with players, but if I have to be honest, I would prefer going back to my playing days (smiles) because you are out there doing it yourself. When you are a head coach, you have to rely on the players doing the job for you. I would say that managing and coaching is the second best thing to playing.”So how does he go about his business as a coach? “I look at (Louis) van Gaal (manager, Manchester United) sometimes and he has a face like stone. But let me tell you, inside, he is churning inside! We all show it in different ways. I am a bit more boisterous and outgoing and might display my emotions during the game, but that’s how it is!” he explains.Reid also spoke passionately about his philosophy and how he wants the club and the Indian players to progress: “It is a great club! What I have tried to do is give the foreign and Indian lads a chance to bond. I have also tried to give opportunities to almost everyone to express themselves. I am getting to know my best side now. It feel it is very, very important that the Indian boys, take on board, during training and games, the lessons that footballers like Anelka, Ljungberg and Friedrich dish out. I think that our Indian lads, especially the younger ones, have improved.”The all-important subject of the ISL’s grassroots programme came up next and Reid held forth: The grassroots programmes have been fantastic! I was at one recently, where one of the trainers was a Catholic priest (grins) and there were about 120 children from the age of 6-12. The enjoyment that they displayed while playing together was great. At that age, it is all about enjoying yourself, you start with the coaching when they get a little older. With the advent of viewership of the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga in India, I see a lot of young kids wearing their favourite team’s jersey. Cricket is the number one sport in the country, but I don’t see any reason why cricket and football cannot coexist in this massive nation. India has produced some of the greatest cricketers in the world and I believe that it will produce some of the greatest footballers in the world, in time. It is a matter of training, education, diet and physical conditioning and eventually the young boys will get there. You have to start somewhere and I am sure that the ISL will give it the right push and the right platform. Hopefully, football in India will kick on from here.”Reid is a man who enjoys his travels and he is delighted about his latest stopover in his continuing journey: “I love India and Mumbai! We haven’t got good results away from home though (grins), but the atmosphere has been fantastic, wherever we have played. To travel a country as vast as India and to take in all the different cultures and the history attached with the different states has been thoroughly enjoyable. To top it off, I am allied with the sport that I love. It cannot get better than this.”
