ISL 2017: "Football now I think is growing up very quickly here" - in conversation with Chennaiyin's Inigo Calderon

It's been a good day at the office for Chennaiyin FC this time around - three goals scored, none conceded and three points in the bag. As the players stream back to the team bus after their exertions, there are smiles all round, no sullen faces like after the opening day defeat against FC Goa.

We chance upon Inigo Calderon, beat box in one hand, his bags in the other. His mood, just like the music he's playing, is quite upbeat.

Calderon says that the team made a conscious effort to keep the tempo up in the game and had some plans from the beginning which they executed well. He played as the right-back on the night, helping to keep a clean sheet as Chennaiyin beat NorthEast United 3-0.

Calderon is one of the new foreign players in Chennaiyin's squad this year. The 35 year-old Spaniard is a right-back, but can fill in as a defensive midfielder if need be, something that Chennaiyin coach John Gregory did try out in the first game.

A few days later after that win, we catch up with Calderon at the team hotel to get better acquainted. He's typically welcoming and eloquent as we get started on what brought him to India after 17 years of football in Europe.

"I think a bit of everything", Calderon replies. "First point was India was a country I wanted to visit before because it's a massive country and it's a different culture from where I live and I wanted to see that from a long time ago."

He adds: "Football now I think is growing up very quickly here and I think it's a good moment to come. And also you have some big stadiums, the atmosphere is good. Good quality players to play against. Good pitches, good crowds and everything else also; I think the combo was really good."

He does stress though on how, for him, the point about the atmosphere in the grounds is particularly crucial.

"One point that's important for me is the atmosphere in the stands. It gives you extra motivation, but also at the same time some extra pressure. For players who are not used to playing with so many fans, it can be good or it can be bad depending on the game.

"We had that experience in the first half of the first game (vs FC Goa where they were 0-3 down at half-time), where we didn't perform well and the pressure was against us. After that in the second half and in the last game, it changed. So I feel it's something for us to learn and learn quickly."

'Anyone can beat anyone'

Moving to a new country and a fairly new league can be a challenge. When asked for his opinion on the setup and the teams here, he feels that almost all of them are on level footing.

"As far as the quality of the game, it's quite good. I have been told that all the teams will get fitter and fitter as the season goes so that's good. I think the standards are quite good. I think that everyone is almost at an equal level, anyone can beat anyone.

"Goa looked like they were going to be the best team after playing with us, but then they lost the next game. That's how it is. Teams might find it difficult to score one day and another day might score three which is good I think for the tournament. No one team is going to easily be the winner. I think that's good for the league."

'I felt like it was my second home'

Calderon is from the Basque Country in Spain and came through the youth teams at Deportivo Alaves and also played for Alicante. However, it was on foreign shores that he became a legend, in England with Brighton and Hove Albion who currently find themselves in the Premier League.

Calderon had a special relationship with Brighton fans

The Spaniard spent just shy of seven long seasons at the club and was adored by Albion fans throughout his stint there. During his stay there, the club almost broke into the Premier League three times before finally getting it done last year. It was a bittersweet moment for Calderon as it happened just after he'd moved on, the defender moving to Cyprus at the end of the 2015-16 season.

"Nowadays in football, it's really, really complicated to stay more than two or three years at a club. And I was there for six-and-a-half seasons", Calderon recalls fondly.

"I started when we were in the third division nearly going down and after that we were close to the Premier League for three years. So for me, it was a special, special moment in my career. I felt like it was my second home. The fans, I love them and I know that they love me as well. So, it was a very good combination.

"I felt so good there. You know, I was living so far from my home, but it felt like I was staying in my home city because of all this love. For me and my family it was great. We also played some very attractive football. So when you are having a good time, it is complicated to leave. But that's how it is in football, you cannot always stay in one place, you have to move forward.

A testament to Calderon's love affair with Albion is the heartfelt open letter he wrote to the fans when he left two seasons ago. The next season Brighton won promotion to the top-flight.

"Yeah, that's just how it works in football. Bad for me, they went up as soon as I left. But, I like to think that I was a part of that happening; it was not a one-year thing, it was something we built across many years. I know that I was a part of that, a small part probably. But still, it was something I did for the benefit of this club which makes me very proud. I still follow their results. It's a little complicated because you want to be there during their success."

'Love the passion they have for the game'

In that period in England, Calderon crossed paths a couple of times with new Chennaiyin coach Gregory who was manager of Crawley Town. Gregory knows the defender well and was more than happy to have him here as part of his new project.

"Yes, of course, I feel it's a little easier for me compared to some of the other players here", says Calderon when we ask if the adjustment for him was easier here because of having played in England and under British managers.

"I was there (England) and I know that John has an English mentality. Even the other staff are from there so for me it was easier to pick up what they're saying and learn quickly. So it's good. I went to England because I love the passion they have for the game."

Chennaiyin next play tomorrow, away at FC Pune City. They have three points from their two matches thus far with one win and one loss. After accepting responsibility for the defeat in the first game, Gregory went for a 4-2-3-1 as opposed to three at the back in the second which worked well for his side.

Now that a more balanced combination has been found, is it likely that Gregory will retain this blueprint for much of the season? Calderon believes that having options is the key.

"Usually when coaches get something, they don't change it. If you get it wrong, you try to change something, find a solution. I think it's important you have more than one plan. As many plans as you have, it's better, because it gives you more options to develop."

'I am not better or more clever than the rest, just older'

One of the things Gregory has spoken about is how there are no virtual hierarchies present in the dressing room. Calderon also acknowledges this fact and says that they have a good dynamic at the moment.

"It's really, really good and that's very important because we're going to be living here what four to five months at the hotel all together. And trust me, when you are in a bad group it can be a nightmare and until now, it has been so, so good. There are no groups. Like obviously, I can be better with Gavilan because he's from my country, but I feel comfortable with everyone and everyone else is also doing the same. And that's going to be really, really important.

"I'm kind of like the big brother", he says with a smile.

Calderon is one of the elder statesmen in the team (Image credits: Chennaiyin FC)

Despite his vast playing experience though, Calderon believes that his role in the team isn't greater than any other players, but he does reveal that he loves mentoring the younger players.

"Well, you get more experience by playing for lot of years. I am not better or more clever than the rest, just older. Maybe there are some things I know, that some of the other players who are say 20-years-old don't know because I didn't know them when I was 20 and I liked to learn some things from the seniors.

"And here I feel that all the young Indian boys and all the young ones they listen to you. For me, it's extra pressure you know, because I have to say something right. At the same time, it's something that I like a lot. I feel that we foreigners have more experience in the football side which we can pass on to them, which is better for them, better for the team."

'I could be a coach'

As the conversation progresses you begin to see why Calderon is perhaps a very good fit for any team with youngsters with his measured takes and well-thought out replies. You'd think he'd make a great manager. Well, guess what? That's part of the plan for the Spaniard once he calls time on his playing career as he reveals the reason behind his sports science degree and psychology masters.

"That's the plan", he grins.

"I wanted to have everything finished by the time I finished my career. I did sports science at university and did a sports psychology masters. I have done the UEFA A license. So as soon as I finish, I could be a coach. I don't want to be, after 2-3 years, wasting my time studying these things. I have plenty of time now to study."

He also talks about how a good work ethic was imbibed by him early on thanks to his upbringing, as he feels footballers should try and strive to get their studies in whenever possible.

"In my career, as a footballer, I think it's something that's been very important. In England, I was trained to teach the young players to use their time well, not waste it. We football players, we play 2 hours a day and then we have lot of time. We can study something than be on the Playstation. Football career is short, sometimes it's just 2 or 3 years. If you're lucky, five, six or seven years and after that it's done."

'A bad injury or the manager doesn't like you'

He brings up an interesting point about time spent gaming and I ask him if he feels it's a threat as a lot of up-and-coming footballers seem to be hooked on it.

"It is a threat because if you ask me, you can have fun, but I think first thing for me, important is studies and football. For me, I was lucky because my family taught me that. It's really, really important because I think it makes you a better person and a good footballer. You have more discipline. And like I said, it helps you be ready because suddenly you can have a bad injury or manager doesn't like you and your career is finished in one day. You have to be ready for that. I think you have to be ready for that next challenge."

Coming back to the season, Calderon once again reiterates how he feels there isn't much between the various teams, but cheekily admits he wouldn't mind if his team were the one to dominate.

"From the games I've been watching, I think it's going to be so, so equal between all the teams. It's going to be good for the growing up of the league because you don't want to see one team dominate. If that it's the case, I hope that team is us."

That's what he's looking forward to - a good debut season with what he calls a "really, really good group."

"I'm looking forward to having a really, really good season. As I said we have a good group and I believe a lot in the persons and the footballers here."