Will wholesale changes help Chennaiyin?

Coach Gregory believes so as the team targets more success

In the five previous editions of the Indian Super League, Chennaiyin FC didn’t make as many changes to its squad as it has this season beginning on October 20.

It had prided itself on retention. This time, there is a near-complete overhaul of the team. Only one foreign player — Brazil’s El Sabia — has held his place and there are more than half-a-dozen new faces in the team.

John Gregory, Chennaiyin’s coach, is of the firm opinion that the changes he has made will improve the attack and solidify the defence. “There has been an extensive change in the team, it is a mixture of young and experienced ones. We will bounce back,” assured Gregory, at the team launch here on Thursday.

Anirudh Thapa, a new star on the horizon, and one of the key players of the team, said it’s good to have a bit of change. “A good start will lead to a good end,” he said.

Faith

For striker Jeje Lalpekhlua it was a disaster last season where he struggled to score. Despite his poor strike rate, Gregory showed complete faith in him. The 28-year-old has recovered from knee surgery and is keen to play in Chennaiyin’s first game (away) against FC Goa on October 23. “Everything is going well right now. I hope to be fit before the first game,” he said.

When a vernacular reporter sought to know why there are only two TN players in the team, Dhanpal Ganesh [the other is Edwin Vanspaul] said it is only a matter of time before more players play for the country. “I don’t see that way. There was no professional team in Tamil Nadu, after Indian Bank. Now with Chennai City FC [in I-League], there are more players from the State. In future, there are chances that more players from TN will be there in the Chennaiyin squad and the Indian team.” Ganesh also expressed his desire to play in the starting XI in all the matches.

When a fan asked forward Rahim Ali on what are his chances of playing when the competition in the department is fierce with Jeje, Andre Schembri (Malta) and Nerijus Valskis (Lithuania) in the fray, Rahim said it will be a challenge. “It will be a good challenge for me. I will fight for my place and the rest the coach will decide,” he said.

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