Chennaiyin FC head coach Bozidar Bandovic says foreign players are integral to a club's success

Chennaiyin FC head coach Bozidar Bandovic is a man on a mission. Currently helming Chennai FC for the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL), Bandovic seems to know how to steer the two-time ISL champions to glory for the third time.

Before signing for Chennaiyin FC, Bandovic plied his trade with the Thai Premier League coaching Buriram United. In 2018 he helped Buriram United become champions and also created records enroute –winning 87 points in one season and a record of 15 consecutive wins. His exploits also led to him winning the Thai Premier League coach of the year in 2018. He even coached his team in the AFC Champions League and also helped Buriram United win the Thailand Champions Cup in the subsequent year.

Bandovic, who is on a one-year contract with Chennaiyin FC, is keen to change the fortunes of the Chennai-based club. In a virtual media interaction, the head coach threw light on a variety of topics, including Chennaiyin FC’s new signings.

Read: Chennaiyin FC sign attacking midfielder Ninthoi Meetei

Bandovic believes Chennaiyin FC have a balanced squad with the right mix of youth and experience, going into the ISL. He said:

The head coach believes that foreign players should lead by example in the team, and that that would in turn help the younger domestic players improve – the reason why the league was conceptualized in the first place.

Talking about Chennaiyin FC’s foreign recruits, most of whom are playing in the ISL for the first time, Bandovic said:

The Chennaiyin FC head coach added that foreign recruits need to have a positive influence on the Indian players.

The Chennaiyin FC head coach does not believe in a long pre-season, saying eight weeks is enough to keep the players fresh ahead of the ISL. The ISL season gets underway on November 19 in Goa.

Chennaiyin FC finished eighth in last season's ISL and a lot of blame was put on the strikers for not scoring enough goals. However, Bandovic is keen to change the script this season and hopes for a change in fortunes. He said:

Chennaiyin FC head coach said the entire team, with the exception of Hungarian midfielder Vladimir Koman who is expected to arrive on Wednesday, are in Goa and in quarantine and said there are no injury worries for the team.

Chennaiyin FC head coach also revealed that Tamil Nadu player and midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh is not part of the pre-season camp.

Also read: Chennaiyin FC sign Hungarian midfielder Vladimir Koman ahead of ISL 2021-22 season