Chennaiyin FC’s latest signing Esmael Goncalves, also known as Isma, is looking forward to playing under head coach Csaba Laszlo. Isma believes that he shares a similar wavelength with head coach Laszlo and in an interview with Chennaiyin FC’s official website, the attacker opened up on the prospect of playing for the Marina Machans among other things.

“Playing at Chennaiyin FC will be a great challenge, a good challenge. I did speak to a few friends and asked them about Chennaiyin, and they all told me it is a good club with good ambitions. So, I am really happy to be a part of the team now,” the 29-year-old forward said.

“I spoke to the coach (Csaba László) and he told me what he has in mind for me and the team. How he wants us to play, and how he plans to utilize me. I immediately agreed and am onboard with his plans. I can say that I am really happy that we think in the same manner, and our wavelengths match. So, I am really looking forward to working with the boss and the rest of the staff,” he added.

Isma has played across various leagues in Asia and he feels that his experience with such clubs bodes well for his future with Chennaiyin. “I think my experience of playing across Asia will help me in India. When I went from one club to another, one league to another, I met many different kinds of coaches and players. And I adapt really fast. I don’t have any real problems with adaptation. So, I think it’s good, it’s experience at the end of the day,” he said.

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A versatile forward, Isma is capable of playing in any position across the frontline. “Yes, I can play upfront as a striker. Even on the left wing or the right wing. I would say that I am fast, strong, and technically good. So those are my best qualities,” Isma said.

The upcoming season of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) will be staged behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while Isma understands the difficulties of playing without fans, he believes that it will be a ‘learning experience’ which might be helpful in the future.

“It’s going to be difficult to play without the fans. It’s always better when your fans are in the stands and supporting you. It always helps in lifting the team up. The fans are the 12th player, so it will be really difficult without them. But this in itself will also be quite the experience, for us players. To play in an empty stadium. Everything we encounter in life, we must take it as a learning experience, that will always help us in the future,” he shared.

“We will try to enjoy ourselves to the fullest, doing what we love. We will be living in a bubble, all us players together. All the talk will be surrounding football only. For the fans, thankfully everything will be on TV, all our matches. They can follow us and support us to the fullest that way. For the Chennaiyin fans, I will say that I will give my best. I am a hard-worker. I want to succeed at Chennaiyin, and help the club succeed. I hope I can get all your support, so that we can achieve good things,” Isma concluded.