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FC Bengaluru United (FCBU) find themselves in something of a precarious situation, having lost their second game to Ambernath United Atlanta in Mumbai on May 11. The defeat sees them placed fourth (at the time of writing) on the points table in the final round of the I-League 2nd Division with two games to play, and a game in hand over the two teams above them.
The Fernando Varela-led side are very much still in contention for a promotion to the I-League though, with a second-place finish enough to earn them a jump up the ladder.
Sportskeeda caught up with the Spaniard for an exclusive chat after the Bengaluru-based side’s 1-0 final round-opening win over Delhi FC at Bangalore Football Stadium.
Over the course of the conversation, Varela expressed satisfaction with the way his team was playing in spite of restrictions in place with the foreign player ban (more on that later in this article) and the side’s reliance on youth.
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He had the following to say about FCBU’s performances under him so far:
“We’re playing against experienced teams with experienced players, players that have already played (Indian) Super League no? It’s not easy. We are under restrictions. This is a team that has some youth players. We also have experience but we have youth too, you know? Like Mac (Macarton Louis Nixon) for example. He is 18-19 years old. He was, for me, the best player today (against Delhi FC).”
“Of course, we have to manage the games, the momentum during the games," he added. "And this group will be very very tough. It is not easy to play. Sometimes you have to defend and you have to defend well. Like today… we defended well. At times we didn’t, but they (Delhi FC) couldn’t take much advantage.”
With two games left to play, FCBU’s promotion hopes are still very much in their own hands. As much of a setback as the defeat on Thursday was, wins in their final two games will see the team promoted without much trouble.
The FCBU head coach, though, refused to look too far ahead when asked about his team’s promotion chances, opting instead to take it step-by-step.
“We have the same chances as the other teams. We’re looking at it game-by-game and not looking further than that. It’ll be tough, for sure,” he continued.
“It is not good for Indian football” - FC Bengaluru United coach Fernando Varela on the foreign player ban
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a ban on foreign players from playing in the I-League 2nd division and lower. While the decision itself saw mixed reactions, the Spanish coach wasn’t too pleased with the idea.
Speaking about the ban, Fernando Varela suggested that there were other ways to help produce higher-quality Indian players. He had the following to say:
“I guess the reduction in the number of foreign players is not good for Indian football. I don’t know how the decision was taken but you take Spain, Germany, the Premier League, they have a lot of foreign players. And they are there because they can really help the local players. Here, they are doing the opposite.”
Varela added:
“I really don’t understand. I understand what the federation (AIFF) wants, you know? To improve the level of the Indian players but this is not the way (to do it). I don’t agree with this method. I think the way to really help the Indian footballers is to give them good coaches at the youth levels, provide good facilities, not reducing the number of foreigners. It’s not a good thing for Indian football.“
Having managed in the I-League before, most would have looked at a drop to the 2nd division as something of a step down. Not Varela though. He looked at it as an opportunity, crediting his employers and their vision for signing him in a 2nd division club, albeit one that could well be playing in the I-League next year.
“The kind of club it is, the kind of vision that they have," he added. "How they manage the players, the staff, I guess for me was the more important thing. And the vision they have for the future, for me, is important. Like I said, we are under restrictions. I guess nobody expected me to come here because I was at Churchill Brothers.”
The 49-year-old also opened up on his time with the Churchill Brothers. His stint with the Goa-based side ended abruptly earlier this year, with the two parties mutually parting ways after the former being in charge for just five I-League games.
Varela clarified that it was his decision to leave, with the best interests of the club at heart. He said:
“I left on my own. I took the decision to leave. The time was right for me, for the Churchill Brothers family, to really think about what could be better for the team, for the club and I guess my decision was the best for the club.”
For now, though, Varela’s focus is solely on his current club and their push to be playing in the I-League, come the 2023-24 season.
FC Bengaluru United travel to Shillong to play Shillong Lajong on May 21, before returning to host United SC at the Bangalore Football Stadium on May 26 to close out their season.
With promotion at stake, it remains to be seen if the side can overcome all remaining obstacles to play their first-ever season in the I-League. Given the side they have, one would expect them to be able to finish what they have started in spite of that Ambernath-shaped blip along the way.
