Chennai: “We don’t know each other and that is the biggest advantage for both teams,” was Minerva Punjab FC coach Surinder Singh’s reply when asked to share his thoughts on Sunday’s opener against Chennai City FC.
Minerva finished runner-up in the I-League second division last season, but after champion Dempo Sports Club pulled out, the Punjab outfit got a chance to compete in the top flight.
“We have been playing together for a while. We have a nice blend of youth and experience. We rely on the pace of the youngsters during counter-attacks and that is our strong point,” Surinder said.
He said the team has signed three foreigners — Nigerians Loveday (defender), Victor Abomi (midfielder) and Joel Sunday (striker) — and left the fourth slot vacant.
“I am yet to fill the fourth slot as I am planning to give a few chances to the academy players,” he said.
Chennai City coach Robin Charles Raja was confident that his experienced players — skipper D. Ravanan, Karanjit Singh and foreign recruits Marcos Tank and Charles — will get the job done on Sunday.
He said the team management was working overtime to assemble top-class players and has succeeded in it.
“We had only 20 days to assemble a squad, but I have managed to get two quality players for each position,” he said.
A strong advocate of the 4-2-3-1 system, the former Tamil Nadu coach indicated that Chennaiyin FC defensive midfielder Zakeer Mundampara would be used in an offensive role.
Robin reasoned that though the player doesn’t possess the quality to win aerial balls and initiate attacks from defensive midfield, he had the spatial awareness, superb first touch and can provide quality through balls to make a difference in an offensive position.
Skipper Ravanan, who requested the fans to come out in large numbers to root for the home side, said he will have tough time in the box as his friend and Minerva striker Manandeep Singh will be on the prowl.
