Manolo Marquez Charts Path for Indian Football's European Aspirations

Manolo Marquez, the new head coach of the Indian men's football team, emphasizes the need for improved pace and decision-making to compete at a European level. He highlights the importance of grassroots development and proposes expanding the Indian Super League for better competition.

Newly appointed head coach of the Indian men's football team, Manolo Marquez, has noted that while Indian players possess technical skills on par with their European counterparts, they lag in terms of pace and quick decision-making crucial for competing at a European level. He stated, 'Even though there are technically skilled players in India with the quality to play in Europe, the pace at which the game is played in Europe is still something we don't have in India.'

Marquez, with extensive experience in both Europe and India, offers a unique perspective on the current state and future trajectory of Indian football. He identified faster pace, smaller playing spaces, and quick decision-making as key characteristics of European football that Indian players need to develop. He said, 'Indian football needs to develop these aspects to bridge the gap with European football.'

Addressing the structure of Indian football, particularly the Indian Super League (ISL), Marquez touched on the potential introduction of relegation. He raised concerns about the feasibility of relegation, describing it as a 'difficult issue' due to the challenges teams might face post-relegation. Nonetheless, he advocated for an expansion of the league to around 16 to 18 teams to enhance competition at the top level. 'I think India needs better competition at the top level, with more teams,' he opined.

Marquez also stressed the importance of grassroots development, focusing on under-15 and under-17 age groups as essential for India's football future. 'The next step is to improve the level of Indian football, starting from the grassroots. We need to do better in tournaments like the Asian Games,' he noted. He concluded by cautioning against rushing the development process, underscoring the need for a step-by-step approach. 'Sometimes we want to move too fast, and this is very, very difficult,' he warned. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)