Player-manager Marco Materazzi was elated with Chennaiyin FC’s first win in five games and said the victory showed that the team had replacements. Materazzi, who sat out of the match due to an injury, had to rejig his team’s shape after he lost Elano (calf), Gouramangi Singh (groin) and John Stiven Mendoza (hamstring) through the game.
“The injuries are a big problem. Elano and Mendoza are very big players. But Bruno (Pelissari) came in Elano’s place and played very well,” he said.
The injured trio is now expected to go for medical evaluation on Thursday.
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The 3-1 result, which now takes it top of the Indian Super League (ISL) table, comes on the back of four draws for the Chennai team.
“We didn’t deserve to draw the last three games. But finally we have a win. It’s good.”
Even as Chennai conceded again on Wednesday making it just one clean sheet in nine games, Materazzi did not seem unduly worried and said “a win is what matters.”
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On his part, FC Pune City manager Franco Colomba termed his team’s performance very disappointing.
“We didn’t play a good match,” he said. “We weren’t fresh.
“So it’s important to keep this result out of the system and concentrate on the next game.”
Greece’s Kostas Katsouranis, who has been the team’s midfield mainstay, did not have a good game and Colomba said it was down to fatigue.
“It is difficult to play every match at the same level. Three or four matches in a week are physically very tough.”