Kolkata: The credit for the Indian national team’s recent rise in the FIFA rankings to 96 from the 170’s should mainly go to the Indian Super League coaches, as they have improved the quality of the players, that has benefitted the players greatly, feels the former English Premier League forward of Indian origin Michael Chopra.
The former Sunderland player however warned the people against getting carried away too much by the team’s recent success.
He said, “Indian Football is on an upward spiral, I think people get carried away when they see India is 96 or 97 in the world.”
Chopra who has been a part of the ISL based outfit Kerala Blasters since the league’s inception in 2014, was in Shillong for a government initiative “Mission Football”, where in an interview with IANS, he said, “In reality I think New Zealand are 95. Could India beat New Zealand? I don’t think so, New Zealand played the Confederations cup. They played Russia, they got beaten 1-2. You look at Canada at 100. Do I think India would have a chance against Canada? I don’t think so. Iain Hume is one of the best players in ISL . He can’t get in the Canadian National team”.
ISL Foreign Coaches Behind India’s Historic Upswing in FIFA Rankings, says Indian origin player
The Indian National team under the tutelage of Stephen Constantine have been performing exceptionally well and their rise to the 96th rank in the FIFA World rankings is the result of it.
However, the former Newcastle player feels that more than Constantine it is the cash-rich league and the foreign coaches that have contributed more to develop the players.
He said, “You look at 3 years ago, I think they (India) were 177-175. ISL started, now you look where they are. And I believe it’s due to a lot of foreign coaches coming to India and coaching the players properly”.
Taking a jibe at Indian coaches Chopra also adds, “I am friends with some of the former Indian players like Renedy Singh and Bhaichung Bhutia, I was speaking to Bhaichung some days ago and he said we used to run around the pitch 10 times and then we would play XI a side. Coming to the ISL, names like Materazzi, Steve Coppell, David James, Zambrotta, Peter Reid, all these top managers, that were top players have come to India and have a impact on Indian footballers”.
“I came in ISL 1 and no disrespect, Indian footballers were not good enough. Look at Jeje (Lalpekhlua) now. How much he has come working with Materazzi. He is a better footballer”.
With ISL 4, just round the corner, teams have already added new players to their squad and with the domestic draft already over, some top class foreign players are what the teams are looking for.
Former ISL champions Chennaiyin FC looked the busiest, with newly appointed head coach John Gregory quickly completing the squad and already having added two foreigners in Inigo Calderon and former star Raphael Augusto, the former ISL champions signed Slovenian midfielder Rene Mihelic on a free transfer.
Elsewhere, former ATK defender Jose Luis Espinosa Arroyo, better known as Tiri became the first foreign signing of Newly Launched ISL Club Jamshedpur FC.
Mumbai FC also aims to retain the core bunch of the squad from the last season of and have retained defenders Lucian Goian and Gerson Vieira.