How long do you think it will take India to match the heavyweights of the sportIJ
To be honest I think it will take a long time because in football you cannot replace experience. Of course you can try to gain some time, but to get the result you need to invest in the structures, not only the players, the staff, the coaching.
At the moment there is an exposure with the ISl, for a short period, but this needs to continue for the rest of the year. In a big country like this there must be a way to have a strong competition for a longer period. But, for this you need structures, you need clubs, people who invest and believe in that.
What do you make about the fan support in India, especially in DelhiIJ
I think there is a huge potential here. Obviously not everywhere in India there is a football culture because cricket is the No 1 sport but there are places where the fans are really passionate and love to see good spirit and competitive football. I'm speaking about places like Kerala, Kolkata, Northeast, Goa which have a nice atmosphere.
I think in Delhi we are lagging behind slightly because we have a big stadium which at the moment we are not able to fill. For that, we have to create a dynamic in Delhi. But, in the whole country everyone is doing something. When Bengaluru FC represents India you could feel that Indian people like to support their own team, like to defend their own colours. So, judging by that, if you can create a competition where there is a good show, there is no reason why you can't build interest.
Scoring goals was a big problem for Delhi Dynamos last season as the team managed only 18 from 14 games. But that problem looks to be sorted out as Delhi is the current top scores in the league with 21 goals. What do you reckon is the reason behind itIJ
I think it's not that easy. last year we created a lot of chances from outside the box. We had a lot of shots but most of them were not on target. This year we are creating more clear chances in the box. We have scored goals but I think we can score more. That's one area of the game where we can improve if we want to win the ISl ie to be more clinical and have that killer instinct in front of goal. If we can convert our chances, that will turn our good performances into results.
last season Dyamos reached its first ever semifinal. This time do you think Delhi can build on it with a shot at the titleIJ
We started well with a win away in Chennai. Then we struggled a bit with the draws and that affected the confidence a bit because there were some games we expected to win but when we drew them the scenario was not ideal and I think at that moment there was a lack of confidence. Then everybody overcome that moment and we had to dig in to get the results in the last games. Now, we have possession and we are more clinical inside the box. So, I can say that we are on track. I know the goal is to at least get to the semi-final. But, inside everyone has this feeling that we must make the final and must play to win because we believe that winning the ISl would be a great reward for our hard work.
What do you make about playing under the Italian manager Gianluca ZambrottaIJ
We worked very hard in pre-season. We had a good pre-season and had better results than last year. He sets the basics in terms of tactics and physical conditioning.
Which position do you prefer playing for DelhiIJ Is it in the flanks or in the middleIJ
I prefer to play in the midfield. Also, I think in India it is better because you get to have more possession and influence the game better. I can play wide but I feel I have more possession and I am more involved in the game. I have played in this position for the last 4-5 years with a lot of freedom so this is where I feel more comfortable.
After this ISl season will you return to Egyptian Premier league club Wadi Degla FC or will you be joining a new clubIJ
I don't really have any plans. A little bit like last year when I came here I didn't know that I would be playing in Egypt. I'm looking for a short project to achieve the objective. Then I will take a break and after the break I will decide.
I went to Egypt because I knew the coach and I believed in what he was trying to achieve. I have a good relationship with them but if there's no aspect of competition I will not go to a place like that. So, I don't know. I will have conversations and look at my options in January.
Since you are 36 years old, how long do you think you can continue playingIJ
It all depends on my motivation, on my health. All the players I spoke to said as long as you can carry on do it because once you stop you think 'Ah maybe one more year'. So, when I feel I am struggling to start every day and even to get up for a training session, sure I will stop. But, at the moment I am fit and I'm motivated to compete. I think right now I have 830 games, if I can make it 1000 it'll be great. But, I don't know how long I can play maybe till 40. I think I can keep playing for another 2-3 years.
How do you rate your experience in India so farIJ
It's very interesting. It's a very demanding season when you come to the ISl. You don't really know what is going to happen in terms of the level of the games or the competition. But, being here last season and this season as well, it's a very different experience. It's nice because you get very close to the players. It's nice because you live together, struggle and win together.