Chennayin FC started their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) campaign well, registering the first away win of the tournament with a 2-1 win over FC Goa before coming out on top by the same scoreline at home against Kerala Blasters FC in the ‘South Indian derby’. However, they were unable to continue this form in their third game, with a defence that had begun to build a reputation for resoluteness being breached four times as Delhi Dynamos FC registered a 4-1 win over Chennaiyin on October 25. Despite the setback, assistant coach Vivek Nagul was very bullish ahead of his side’s game in Chennai today against Mumbai City FC.Sitting alongside midfielder Harmanjot Khabra, the assistant gaffer heaped praise on Khabra and the rest of the squad for the professionalism they had shown in the wake of their recent loss. While a defeat by such a margin can demoralise a squad, Nagul was convinced by the reaction of his players over the last few days that they had the mental strength to bounce back and put in a better showing against Mumbai City.Speaking specifically about the previously firm defence conceding four times in one game, Nagul expressed faith in his players’ ability to turn things around. “We will not be changing anything in the back line. The defence line is the same,” asserted Nagul, though he acknowledged that “it was a bad day in Delhi”.He also addressed the threat posed by Mumbai City striker Nicolas Anelka, who could make his first ISL appearance in this fixture. While being aware of the prolific Frenchman’s record over a career spent playing for some of the top clubs in Europe, Nagul said there was no separate strategy for the former Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Juventus striker. Instead, he backed his defence to handle Anelka and minimise the striker’s impact. “The team is well equipped to deal with Anelka. The defence is strong enough to tackle the situation when Anelka is in possession of the ball.”Regarding his own side, Nagul denied that his side was overly reliant on marquee player Elano, who has scored three of the team’s five goals in the tournament. He explained that the Chennaiyin side is built around a perfect blend of youth and experience, rather than relying on one player. “The team has got immense faith in Elano and in his ability, but we are not solely reliant on one player,” Nagul insisted. “We are a strong vibrant team.” Nagul also pointed out the need for astute player management and timely substitutions considering that games are coming thick and fast, and remarked, “our midfield is strong”, when asked whether his players could cope with the demand of the ISL fixtures schedule.On cue to emphasise his coach’s point, midfielder Khabra spoke of the importance of recovery and concentration, and the need to maintain a high level of fitness given the schedule. “Everyone in the team knows about the schedule and it is the players' own responsibility to be fit for the next game,” Khabra asserted.
