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FC Pune City have had a great start to their season, picking up 9 points from their first four games, and their head coach David Platt seemed in a buoyant mood ahead of Pune’s clash against Chennaiyin FC on Saturday.
Addressing the media ahead of FC Pune City’s first away game of the season, Platt rubbished the concept of home advantage in the ISL. He said, “The teams anyway stay at hotels, both at home and away, meaning that the environment remains much the same. So, it is not a particular disadvantage to be playing away from home.”
The Englishman instead emphasized on the need for recovery and recuperation as a more defining factor, than home advantage. “With the league being as intense as it is, the heat, and games coming in quick succession, a team would ideally need at least three days of recovery time. Anything less than that is where oppositions can take advantage of fatigue, which can be both mental and physical.”
The former assistant coach of Manchester City said he was impressed by the quality of the league, which he thought stemmed from the parity between the eight sides in the tournament. “At this stage of the league, anyone can beat anyone. Such is the parity on the field. At a later stage of the tournament, there will come a stage when psychological factors will affect teams. Until then, everyone has to be alert and not take anything for granted.”
About Pune’s start to the season, Platt was reserved with his comments but did say that he was delighted to welcome back the players, who were away with the Indian national Team, like Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Jackichand Singh. He said, “Obviously, those guys bring in quality, but more importantly, it has enabled us to move from a squad of 22 players to 26. The nature of the league is such that most managers will have to utilize their entire squad, and it is no different for us.”
Important not to get carried away: Platt
“It is important for us that we don’t get carried away by this start. Being top right now does not matter. Ultimately, after 14 games, we should be in the top 4 and make the playoffs, that is the target.”
Platt also shot down notions that teams would set a minimum number of points as a target to reach the playoffs. “Ultimately, we want to play good football in every game. When we do that, the points will take care of themselves.”
On tomorrow’s opponents, Chennaiyin, Platt was clear that despite their indifferent start, they would be shown the respect that they deserve. “They have a settled squad who know what they are doing. They also have a manager who has been at the ISL before. So, irrespective of their indifferent start, they were league toppers last year, and deserve to be given respect, and we will do that.”
