PRE-MATCH QUIPS: Clash of the Italian coaches

MATERAZZI IS WELL AWARE of the expectations from the fans and team stakeholders but also knows that the team must stay prepared one game at a time. Thus declared

“It’s a pleasure to defend the title and I’m not putting any pressure on my players and I’m really glad with what they’re doing so far,” he told reporters on Wednesday."

Delhi Dynamos new head coach Zambrotta wants his team to target nothing but to win in every game. Going forth he said 

“I like my team to play in a compact manner. It’s very important for me. They have to attack together and defend together as a team. Another important thing is that I like my team to have a winning mentality”

How he was looking forward to play his Italian compatriot Materazzi's team Chennaiyin FC, Zambrotta answered

“I won a World Cup with Materazzi, he’s a good friend. But tomorrow we’ll have an interesting game against a difficult opponent. Chennaiyin are a very good team and we’re ready for them.”

Fellow Italian Materazzi on the same question had this to say

“Firstly, I know him as a player and not as a coach. I’m really happy to see him here in India. It is a great chance for him to do well as head coach and I wish him the best but not for tomorrow’s game because we want to be the champions again.”

Materazzi must be seeing the positive side of things after the draw in the opening game. It was more two points dropped rather than one gained. Had it not been for the late penalty things would have been much brighter for Chennaiyin FC. In the post match event Materazzi said he believed it was not a penalty initially but later after watching the replay closely changed his opinion and said

“First of all, I will have to apologise to the referee [of the previous game] because in the last press conference I said it was not right but when I saw it again, it was a penalty. It was due to the inexperience of Jerry but when you are 18 you need to make these mistakes because if not, then only 30-year-olds would play. What we have to do is to learn from this mistake and be cautious in the penalty area and when Jerry learns that he’ll be ready to play in the whole league.”

Like all teams, DD will be looking to their marquee player for some inspiration. About Malouda, 

“Malouda is a very important player for us. He is a leader in terms of his contributions on and off the pitch. He is a player who can also help teach the young players,” Zambrota said.

He also was of the opinion that Indian players were of good calibre and keen to learn things

"We have very good Indian players and their levels have been going up day by day. So I feel very good about the Indian players. They are good fundamentally and are intelligent. Most importantly they want to learn." said DD head coach.

Zambrotta was pleased with the pre season results but said that is just part of the preparation and the real test begins tonight. 

" I’m very happy with the pre-season. We had a very good pre-season and I  am happy with the work we have put in. But the league begins tomorrow. It means that our work starts tomorrow and we have do well from tomorrow for the pre-season to have any meaning."

About preparation and infrastructure progress for the team, Materazzi was elated to have a well maintained training ground from past season

 “I cannot judge the other clubs’ infrastructure but as we know we faced many difficulties in the first year. We did not have a training pitch and we were training at a university. But from the second year on we have had our own training pitch. I think it is the best training pitch I could ever want. I think it’s perfect because we don’t have any excuses in terms of infrastructure, including the pitch. I want to thank the government and the club. Now we have all we want to do a perfect training session.”

Delhi defender Anas Edathodika who was also present at the press conference said

“They’re a good team. They won the title last season. But we’re here to try and win all three points”

Being the first year since Zambrotta took over the Head coach reigns from Roberto Carlos, Edathodika spoke about the difference in working with both coaches

“They’re very different. Even as persons, they’re different. They have different mentalities, Zambrotta and Carlos are really different as coaches. Because of that we as players have to now get used to a different playing style. But no worries, we’ll adapt.”