Marco Materazzi and Bruno Pelissari.Chennaiyin head coach Marco Materazzi was happy to be back to winning ways against Pune City after four straight draws, and the result was all the more significant because it took Chennai to top of the table. The player-head coach felt the 3-1 victory was well-deserved. “It was not good to get the draws in the last four games and we deserved to win,” asserted the Italian gaffer during the post-match press conference. “Today the team played extremely well, and we won as a team,” an effusive Materazzi added. The gaffer further remarked, “I am very happy with a 3-1 victory and hopefully we can take the confidence to the next game.”With marquee player Elano being injured during the match, Materazzi credited substitute Bruno Pelissari for a winning performance. “Bruno has played just three games, but for me, tonight, I want to say thank you for having a wonderful game.” Materazzi marvelled at the attacking riches he has, saying excitedly, “Now I have Elano and Bruno in the same side!”The gaffer wasn’t overly worried by the spate of injuries, after Gouramangi Singh and John Stiven Mendoza were also taken off after picking up knocks. “The team has enormous depth in me, Silvestre, Abhishek Das, Balwant, so we are a team and we should do well,” Materazzi added. The coach felt that the biggest strength of his squad is its ability to adapt to various tactical strategies. “Today we played Jeje and Balwant, but I have the freedom to change and the flexibility will be our key.”Man of the moment Bruno Pelissari accompanied his manager to the media interaction, and acknowledged that he was aware he had huge boots to fill when he came on for league-leading scorer Elano. He remarked, “I was fully prepared for the game and the coach gave me an opportunity to go on the field and play the game and I am thankful for the opportunity.” Reflecting on the goal he scored to give his side the lead at 2-1, which came straight from the kickoff after Pune had equalised, Bruno said, “scoring a vital goal and teaming up with Mendoza was instant because as soon as the kick off after the equaliser, I told Mendoza to give me the ball and within a second I scored the goal. I am very happy.”
