Marina Machan's host Highlanders at Marina Arena in Chennai today in their penultimate league encounter of Hero Indian Super League 2016. The match against the North East United will be their last home game this season. Chenniayin FC need to win this match to keep them alive in the league. Chennai presently at the 7th place in the league table with 14 points from 12 games and are one spot behind Highlanders on account of inferior goal-difference.
Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference in Chennai, gaffer Marco Materazzi expressed his disappointment of not being live up to expectations this season and him teams poor performances this year. " If you can remember in the last season in the final four games when Elano is not playing Bruno who made the difference and Mendoza . If at all he does not get that injury in first year we might have won the league in the first season it self. But yes what I think is we wasted to many chances this season." He said.
He added: " In Kolkata we conceded a late goal, same in Pune where we conceded a late free-kick.we could have sealed the games against Kerala and Mumbai as well where we should have scored that second goal but instead conceded in the second half. So yes I regret that may be we didn't play to our potential this year. We didn't play the way what we thought we could but we are looking for six points ,hoping at a same way other results also go in our favour."
The Italian world cup winner also shared his view on proposed expansion of the league next year and if the new-look Hero ISL will be able to attract marquee talents like John Arne Riise for a longer duration.
" First of all I would like to thank the ISL and Chenniayin FC to allow me to coach for these three years. I don't know about my next year's involvement in ISL because as far now it's just a rumour. The league for next year would start in November and end in April or May. It will be difficult to hold on to these big names. And I think it will also be difficult to keep the enthusiasm for that much time. For me , the best arrangement is three to four months league . But I respect the decisions and I believe those at the ISL will decide what's best to develop football in India , " he said.
Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference in Chennai, gaffer Marco Materazzi expressed his disappointment of not being live up to expectations this season and him teams poor performances this year. " If you can remember in the last season in the final four games when Elano is not playing Bruno who made the difference and Mendoza . If at all he does not get that injury in first year we might have won the league in the first season it self. But yes what I think is we wasted to many chances this season." He said.
He added: " In Kolkata we conceded a late goal, same in Pune where we conceded a late free-kick.we could have sealed the games against Kerala and Mumbai as well where we should have scored that second goal but instead conceded in the second half. So yes I regret that may be we didn't play to our potential this year. We didn't play the way what we thought we could but we are looking for six points ,hoping at a same way other results also go in our favour."
The Italian world cup winner also shared his view on proposed expansion of the league next year and if the new-look Hero ISL will be able to attract marquee talents like John Arne Riise for a longer duration.
" First of all I would like to thank the ISL and Chenniayin FC to allow me to coach for these three years. I don't know about my next year's involvement in ISL because as far now it's just a rumour. The league for next year would start in November and end in April or May. It will be difficult to hold on to these big names. And I think it will also be difficult to keep the enthusiasm for that much time. For me , the best arrangement is three to four months league . But I respect the decisions and I believe those at the ISL will decide what's best to develop football in India , " he said.
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