ISL 2015: Lenny Rodrigues says FC Pune City coach David Platt has qualities other coaches lack

FC Pune City midfielder Lenny Rodrigues (L) with coach David Platt (Image courtesy of ISL)

“It is not the strength but the technique that makes a good footballer,” were the words the all-time great player of this beautiful game Pele said on his visit to India recently. FC Pune City midfielder Lenny Rodrigues is the right candidate, as this former Churchill Brothers player weighs just 62 kgs and has mesmerised many great players with his ability. And rightly so, he has been one of the few Indians who have made it to the playing XI in the last three games in the ongoing Hero Indian Super League FC Pune City have played.

The 28-year-old Goan hit the jackpot in the first edition of the ISL as the richest Indian player. One of the youngest to turn professional has been fortunate to have David Platt as his coach.

Never dreamt I would be coached by Platt: Rodrigues

“Sir David is something special. His approach in the game and with the players is something which many (coaches) would lack,” said Lenny on the sidelines of his practice while speaking to Sportskeeda on Thursday.

It was in Turkey where Lenny met David Platt during the training session before the season. And since then, things have changed for this player who turned professional at the age of 17.

“He just came to me and said ‘Keep up with the good work and be committed and dedicated to the game, things will fall in the right place’,”said Lenny about his first meeting with the legend David Platt.

“He is one of the best picks in the team when we talk about Indian players, and he has the potential and he has proved it,” said the former Manchester United player Platt during one of the pre-match press conferences.

“’Learn from mistakes, and never commit the same again,’ are the words which Platt always emphasises,” says Lenny who never in his wildest dreams thought that he would be coached by Platt. "No, not in the wildest did I ever dream that one day I would be coached by Sir David.”

Lenny Rodrigues (R) in action for FC Pune City against Mumbai City FC (Image courtesy of ISL)

I wanted to play against Roberto Carlos for a few minutes: Rodrigues

However, for Lenny, another dream was shattered when Delhi Dynamos player-manager Roberto Carlos failed to take to the field against Pune. “I wish Sir Roberto had played at least for few minutes, but that did not happen,” said Lenny.

The central midfielder Lenny has been known for technique and is one of the rare players not to have been sent off during his 11 years of football as a professional player career.

“I have no idea about the number of bookings, but I always avoid any confrontation with the player and wrong tackling,” said Lenny about his approach in the game.

The former Salgaocar player has seen many ups and downs in the game as a footballer, the worst being his team which he played and supported as a boy, Churchill Brothers, out of the list of clubs in the I-League.

“Yes, that was very sad, nothing I can do,” says Lenny about Churchill Brothers.