|
|
SpeakOut: There Can Be International Breaks During The Season - Deepak Mandal
Veteran defender Deepak Mandal feels like other nations India can also play international matches during the domestic season.
18-Jun-2009 7:55:01 PM
In the last twelve months the Indian national team played
before the start of the I-League and then in the gap between the two phases of
the league.
But Mohun Bagan defender Deepak Mandal feels that the national team should also play matches during the I-League provided there is an international break.
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “ There can be international breaks during the season also. If that happens then I can think we can play matches in that break.
“That would increase the number of matches and give us better preparation.”
However the defender emphasized that like the I-League no other domestic competition including regional leagues should not be played during an international break.
“We always want to play for the country. But it is also important to rest or else we wont be able to give our best.
“The problem in India is, even when the national team is playing some kind of a domestic competition is taking place.
“So we have to start playing immediately after coming from an international fixture and there are also problems for clubs to release players.
“If all domestic tournaments are stopped during international matches then I think it becomes easier for national team players to balance up their role for both club and country,” Mandal said.
The former East Bengal and Mahindra man isn’t too disappointed by the fact that the national team has played only one match in the last twelve months and feels that there is still time to prepare well for the 2011 Asia Cup.
“Its difficult for us players to say how we should prepare for a competition like the Asia Cup.
“But we still have a lot of time before the tournament and I am sure that our coach (Bob Houghton) will take the right steps to help us prepare properly,” he concluded.
Amoy Ghoshal
But Mohun Bagan defender Deepak Mandal feels that the national team should also play matches during the I-League provided there is an international break.
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “ There can be international breaks during the season also. If that happens then I can think we can play matches in that break.
“That would increase the number of matches and give us better preparation.”
However the defender emphasized that like the I-League no other domestic competition including regional leagues should not be played during an international break.
“We always want to play for the country. But it is also important to rest or else we wont be able to give our best.
“The problem in India is, even when the national team is playing some kind of a domestic competition is taking place.
“So we have to start playing immediately after coming from an international fixture and there are also problems for clubs to release players.
“If all domestic tournaments are stopped during international matches then I think it becomes easier for national team players to balance up their role for both club and country,” Mandal said.
The former East Bengal and Mahindra man isn’t too disappointed by the fact that the national team has played only one match in the last twelve months and feels that there is still time to prepare well for the 2011 Asia Cup.
“Its difficult for us players to say how we should prepare for a competition like the Asia Cup.
“But we still have a lot of time before the tournament and I am sure that our coach (Bob Houghton) will take the right steps to help us prepare properly,” he concluded.
Amoy Ghoshal
Inside Goal.Com
-
Vote for your Goal.com World Player of the Week
Have your say on who you think should win Goal.com's weekly honour
-
Euro 2012 a timely respite for depressed Spain
With 24 per cent unemployment, wage cuts and little hope for improvement in the short term, the continental competition will at least take people's minds off their sad situation
-
Welbeck impresses but it's a bad day for Johnson
Ashley Young has also all but secured his place in the starting line up against France while Steven Gerrard put a good shift in. Here's how the Belgium friendly affected the England player's chances of featuring in Euro 2012
-
Five players Rodgers could sign for Liverpool
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Lambert the latest in EPL manager merry-go-round
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday