“It’s hard to scout other teams, because every team is brand new. You don’t know their combinations. So, you can catch a team by surprise. That’s what happened today.”
Mikael Silvestre had little hesitation in admitting that Chennaiyin FC had been caught out by Delhi Dynamos’ short corner in the very first minute.
It was a training ground routine that worked a bit too well, if goal-scorer Wim Raymaekers is to be believed.
“We’ve practised it in the training before, but it never worked like this,” said the Belgian defender half-jokingly. Raymaekers beamed when the goal was first mentioned to him.
Justifiably so, as his first-time left-footed shot from the edge of the box gave Chennaiyin goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano little time to save it.
Raymaekers revealed that his teammates have been working on different options at set-pieces to disturb opponents.
Courage and astutenessHe was understandably pleased with Alessandro Del Piero and Shylo Malsawmtluanga for showing the courage and astuteness to take a short corner in the very first minute.
“I just had to touch it (the ball) right and I touched it very good,” said Raymaekers.
Driven by the impetus of a first-minute goal, Dynamos won comfortably as the match finished 4-1 in the host’s favour at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday.
Raymaekers, although it’s a bonus, isn’t in the side to score wonder goals. Standing at six feet and two inches, the 29-year-old centre-back is the leader of defence.
Good in the air and mostly solid in terms of his positioning, Raymaekers was the only foreigner in a four-man backline that comprised Naoba Singh, Anwar Ali and Shouvik Ghosh on Saturday.
“My job is to lead the Indian players. I look to help them out. They were very good today (against Chennaiyin). They have progressed every week,” said Raymaekers with satisfaction filling his voice.
The Belgian also acknowledged the role played by his other teammates in maintaining the team’s shape and compactness.
“The whole team works very hard. The strikers and outfield players chase the opposition defenders. We also have a very good goalkeeper (Kristof van Hout). He made two-three amazing saves today.”
Enviable coordinationRaymaekers has particularly enjoyed an enviable coordination with central midfielders Bruno Arias and Hans Mulder. The midfield duo has combined well to provide a further degree of security to Dynamos till now.
“Hans and Bruno create pressure in the defensive third and recover a lot of balls. It’s good that they’re playing well since they are the heart of the team.”
Such protection ensures Raymaekers isn’t averse to stepping forward and initiating offensive moves from the back. But the Belgian was quick to point out that Dynamos will need to be cleverer henceforth as the room to surprise the opposition will lessen with time.
