Anirudh Thapa: I will always be grateful to John Gregory

The Chennaiyin FC midfielder also feels it is not fair to compare the Marina Machans' former and current head coaches.

Ever since Owen Coyle took control of Chennaiyin FC, things have been looking up for the Marina Machans. Coyle can attribute his success in no small part to a diminutive  central midfielder from Dehradun. One of the most integral players to his system, Anirudh Thapa is the epitome of the modern Indian player. Pace, technicality and a desire to make it big, the 22-year-old has it all. It's no wonder that he is widely touted as one of the torchbearers who will lead the footballing revolution that is imminent in our country.

Khel Now had the unique opportunity to have a candid chat with the Chennaiyin FC midfielder, giving the world a little taste of what it means to be Anirudh Thapa.

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The current season has been a rollercoaster for fans of Chennaiyin FC. The club went from not scoring in the first four games, to barely being able to help themselves of late. Anirudh Thapa was honest as he voiced his opinions on the campaign, knowing that there is still work to be done, despite the club’s renaissance under Coyle.

“This season has been up and down for us, but we are in a good moment now for the last few games, gaining momentum. Things weren’t going for us at the start, we were unlucky and inconsistent. We didn’t take our chances. But, as I said, we’ve been doing well lately and we just need to work harder and keep winning games,” he reflected.

“Playing at the highest level, no team can expect an easy ride. I’m sure even the teams who are top of the table will testify to that. Playing in the Indian Super League is supposed to be tough and we are supposed to face challenges in every outing. There is no easy game in the ISL," Anirudh Thapa added.

Anirudh Thapa's Indian 5-A-Side Team

"That being said, it is down to us to ensure we implement the coach’s plans and play to our best. It is hard to pinpoint where we struggled, there are many factors. But, what is important is now and ensuring we take one game at a time in a bid to achieve our goals,” the 22-year-old quipped.

Chennaiyin FC’s lack of goals and any sort of threat in attack was a large part of the reason for John Gregory’s departure from the club. After an unlucky transitional period under Owen Coyle, the strikers soon found their shooting boots and CFC were up and running.

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“As John Gregory earlier and now Owen Coyle have both said – it would be a bigger worry if we were not creating chances. It was about us not taking them, which we are now. So, we can’t afford to rest now, we have to keep at it, keep creating chances and the goals will come. Obviously, we have a lethal front four – (Nerijus) Valskis, Rafael (Crivellaro), (Lallianzuala) Chhangte and Andre (Schembri) are all dangerous going forward. Them striking a balance has really helped our upturn in form,” Anirudh Thapa opined.

Speaking of John Gregory, the India international expressed his gratitude towards the man who gave him his first opportunities at Chennaiyin FC, during a season in which the club would go on to win the title.

Anirudh Thapa (R) has been one of the driving forces behind Chennaiyin FC's resurgence under Owen Coyle

“I will always be grateful to John Gregory for the opportunities he gave me in his first season. He placed his faith in me and gave me the platform to express myself and contribute to the team’s success. None of it would’ve been possible without his backing. Along with being a top coach, he is also a wonderful person. It was an absolute pleasure and great learning experience to work with him,” Anirudh Thapa recalled.

“It would be unfair for me to comment on any similarities or differences between them (Coyle and Gregory). It has been our privilege at Chennaiyin FC to get to work with coaches of this caliber, who help us develop as footballers in all aspects, not just as players but as professionals,” he added.

Anirudh Thapa's World 5-A-Side Team

Due to recent results and performances, Chennaiyin FC have put themselves in a position to push for the playoffs, something that motivates the midfielder in particular. Anirudh Thapa also spoke about the disappointment of the AFC Cup, where the club failed to progress beyond the group stages.

“It was definitely a massive disappointment for all of us at the club that we did not progress to the next round of the AFC Cup. We feel we really let our club and the fans down. We really hope to be back at that stage at the earliest and we will give our everything to make that happen.”

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The Chennaiyin FC man also stated that it was essential that Indian clubs began performing on the continental stage, as it was indicative of the growth of the sport in the country. Apart from his exploits at club level, Anirudh Thapa is becoming a mainstay of the Indian football team as well. The head coach, Igor Stimac has pushed him to add goals to round off his game.

“Scoring more goals will surely be a good thing. However, it is more important to contribute to the team the way the coach wants us to. It is definitely something I would like to add to my game, but not at the cost of the team’s gameplan,” he concluded.