You had your backs to the wall last season and somehow overcame it…
Yeah! This team never gives up, the fighting spirit is immense and that comes down to the fact that Marco never gives up. For a team to be at the bottom of the table and then go on and win it, in the way that they won it.
I mean, I remember the final when Jofre scored the free kick and somehow it went through 'Mama’s’ (Apoula Edel) hands, I remember I just looked at Vita and she put an arm over my shoulder and I said “Look, last season we were semi-finalists, this time we’re finalists, that's a great achievement.” And then to go see what Mendo (Stiven Mendoza) did after that was unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.
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That happened because nobody gives up, they just keep going, that's what's special about these boys. From Mendy to Dhana to someone like Jeje, Thoi, all the Indian boys, Jayesh…
Coming to the Indian contingent. Chennaiyin FC is one of the ISL teams to have really seen their Indian stars flourish. That strong Indian core must make you happy.
Another cool fact, every ISL season, the first Indian player to score has been a Chennaiyin FC player. Season one, Balwant became the first Indian goalscorer of the tournament, season two, Jeje, here in the first match, now Jayesh.
Every season, first Indian goalscorer has been a Chennaiyin FC player. That goes to show that a lot of our local boys, local Indian boys are doing well at Chennaiyin FC and if I may step out on a limb and say, I'm not sure of the exact stats, but I'd like to believe Chennaiyin FC is at the forefront of all the teams as far as the Indian boys are concerned.
Last match, Marco gave a debut to Jerry (Lalrinzuala), youngest ever ISL player and I hope by the end of the season there are more. We at Chennaiyin FC believe we’re not a team, we’re a family, and families stick together and we’re very serious about it. That's what this team stands for.
Chennaiyin FC has taken in five teenagers from the AIFF’s Elite U-17 Academy this season to train with the main squad. What's that been like?
I'll tell you one of the things ISL has done. Going back to season one, people like Elano, Silvestre, Djemba, all the really senior guys with all the experience and then you had Alessandro Nesta who came in, who for some football fans, is as big as they come. To top it all you had Marco, who was a player and a coach.
For some of these younger boys to just sit with these guys, just have a meal is something they never would have thought of. They wouldn't have dreamt that they'd be sitting in a room with John Arne Riise and eating together or being coached by Marco Materazzi.
It's just a fantastic experience to learn from all of them because a lot of these foreign players, especially these marquee boys that come in, and I've seen this across the ISL, they literally sit with the younger players, they talk to them. They part their knowledge with them, they learn so much.
Any particular ones that stand out in that regard…
I think Jeje is a prime example; from season one to season three, Jeje’s a different player. Jeje was a really shy boy, I remember in season one and Ela (Elano) used to spend so much time with him, talk to him. You could see him change.
Jayesh Rane’s another boy, Dhana, all these guys, they've transformed because of the senior players spending time with them. For me, as a football fan, to just have some of these guys playing in Chennaiyin colours is a big thing, but for them, as players, they’re the future of Indian football.
From scripted stories with dramatic endings to unscripted drama with unexpected finishes, what's the crossover been like?
Memorable, but the journey isn't over yet. I don't believe in reminiscing about something till it's done. But like Marco said, we’re the defending champions and that means you were the champions; now you have to work to be champions again, so that's what we’re looking to do.
Give it our best this season and do our best. And hopefully, god willing, we’ll be there again at the end and repeat. Another first.
