Thomas Brdaric: ISL is not far away from the level of more improved leagues

The Chennaiyin FC tactician also shared how he plans to defeat Odisha FC.

After a good performance against Jamshedpur FC in their last home game, in which Chennaiyin FC won 3-1, the team is here in Bhubaneswar to take on Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL 2022-23). After bagging a win in the previous game, it is no surprise that Thomas Brdaric's side will be eyeing all three points from Thursday's game.

They would be looking to build on their momentum from the last game and inflict a defeat on the high-flying Odisha FC. Prior to the match, a day before the game, Chennaiyin FC's head coach Thomas Brdaric and player Sourav Das attended the pre-match press conference.

Edited excerpts from the conference are as follows.

On Chennaiyin's approach to the game

Thomas Brdaric stated that his team will be taking a professional approach to face Odisha FC. He said, "We are pursuing our targets. We want to follow the game in a professional way to face Odisha. Odisha is having a good season. They have an experienced coach. He is a good human. I have a good relationship with him.

He added, "I am sure he will want to beat us and we have to face them in a professional way to show our abilities. I am looking forward to this match because it will be a very interesting match. Both teams want to play good football. I believe it will be an open game. We should be well organised and disciplined. We will try to inflict them a defeat."

Coach's opinion on Odisha FC

Brdaric expressed his opinion on the quality of Odisha FC. He heaped praise on the Kalinga Warriors for their attacking prowess and their strong moral character.

He said, "We have analysed Odisha. They will try to implement their strengths, and their strengths are in the offensive. Of course, they know how to score and I can't deny this. We are working. We had a short week without too much time for this match tomorrow. That's why everything must be organised. We don't want to give them space that they can exploit. Our pressing tomorrow must also be very good."

Chennaiyin FC's expectations from the game

On being asked whether we will witness another goal-fest, Brdaric stated that anything can happen in the game. He said, "It will be a match in which both teams like to play offensively. It depends on a lot of things, for instance, how Odisha will play without the ball. Sometimes when you expect a lot of goals, it might turn out to be a match with fewer goals. Let's keep the surprise for tomorrow."

On his experience of coaching CFC

On the eve of the Odisha FC fixture, Thomas Brdaric shared his experience of coaching Chennaiyin FC. He stated, "I feel very well with my players, the team, and the coaching staff. But we should also keep in mind that we are building a new CFC. In my opinion, till now, we are creating a team that is tough to beat. It is a kind of understanding and realistic judgment of results, developments, and conditions.

He added, "We are going forward step-by-step and the fans are supporting us. That's why we were very happy to win last week at home in a tough game against Jamshedpur. Capturing points gives us a good understanding of the measures that we are taking during the week. Staying together is also very important, not just on the field but also in the surroundings."

Coach's opinion on having a longer season with a pre-season tournament

Brdaric believes that having a longer season with a pre-season tournament will be ultimately beneficial for Indian football.

He said, "We not only want to get good results as a team, but we also want to contribute to the growth of Indian football. I see a lot of potential for Indian football. Having a longer season is a way (of improving football in India). We also need to work together. The clubs, the referees, and the federation, all should work in tandem. Of course, there are many wrong decisions. We all make wrong decisions. The main thing is to learn from them."

The tactician added, "ISL is now a nice league. I spoke to people that were here before. They said that football was very wild here in India. Now, I am here. I think it is still a little bit wild, but it is not far away from the level of more improved leagues. What is important is working together and trying to find solutions to everyday problems for developing Indian football."

Sourav Das on his experience of playing under Brdaric

Sourav told that he is finding playing under Thomas Brdaric highly enriching. He stated, "Firstly, I enjoy playing under the coach, both in training and in matches. In training, the coach pushes everyone. In the matches too, it is the same. It does not matter whether it is training or a match, we all are enjoying. We are also fighting our level best for the coach, the team, and the spectators."

His experience of playing for CFC

Sourav shared how he feels playing for Chennaiyin FC. He told it has been a good experience for him so far.

"It is the fourth match I am playing for Chennaiyin. So far, it has been a very good experience for me. This is the first time I am playing for Chennaiyin FC and it is a pleasure for me to play for the side."

Sourav's personal targets from this season

Sourav stated that like any other Indian player, he also wants to play for the national team by performing well for Chennaiyin. He said, "As with any other Indian player, I want to play more games for my team and achieve good results. I also want to play for the national team."