look news india
New Delhi, March 6 (HS). The Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season has been special in many ways. This time the 10th season of the league is being played and moreover, this is the first time that a club, the I-League champions Punjab FC, made their debut in the ISL after getting promoted.
In their debut in the top-tier league, Punjab FC played close matches and tried to adapt to the competition. They have shown promising performances in the second half of the season and kept themselves in the playoff race and Greek head coach Stychos Vargatis is certainly keen to finish the season among the top six teams. Punjab FC have won three times in their last five matches, which includes consecutive 3-1 wins against Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC. Their latest defeat was a hard-fought 2-3 defeat at the hands of Mumbai City FC, a match in which they troubled the Islanders for most of the time.
Coach Stychos Vargatis talked about his promotion, ISL and young Indian players in an interview with the league.
He informed that the entire ecosystem of Punjab FC has developed a good rapport and coordination over the last two years. Players understand the needs of the support staff and work together in coordination, which often helps them perform better. The Greek coach recalled his time in the I-League, where he got emotional at times as a person as well as a coach before some of the key matches that sealed their promotion to the ISL.
Stychos Vargatis said, “As a human being, I lived a lot of emotional and powerful moments last year. It is not limited to celebrations and celebrations only. This includes dressing room emotions, emotions before big matches, team spirit, and united family feelings, and no one can break a family. I have worked very well with the players and my players cooperate very well with the staff. “Winning the I-League title was a big achievement in my coaching career which I will never forget.”
Punjab FC has many talented homegrown players. Other players like Melroy Melvin Assisi, Suresh Meitei, Amarjeet Singh Kiyam, Leon Augustine, Prashant Karuthadathkuni have played a good role in adding to the strength of their experienced international teammates. Vergatis takes a broader perspective and is influenced by players from several clubs. He says it also lays the foundation for the national team's performance.
“The first division of the championship in any country is the step that every player has to take in order to earn a place in the national team,” Vergatis said. All these factors are present in the Indian Super League, which is instilling more confidence in each player to take this step. The Indian national team will have great success in the future, as the ISL provides a strong base for the national team to grow further.”
The 47-year-old Greek tactician joined Punjab FC in 2022, and helped them win the I-League in his first season with the club.
“I 100% believe that Indian players are very good receivers of information,” Vergatis said. He is a very disciplined boy, who understands and does the things that make you happy. This makes you very inspired and emotional. Young players want to learn a lot and they give their best to please their coaches and improve themselves. By Christmas in my first season, the players were full of confidence because the results were coming in. “My dream for Indian football is to see better results for the national team and clubs when Indian youngsters compete against their foreign counterparts.”
Punjab FC will play their next match against playoff rivals NorthEast United FC on Thursday, March 07 at 7:30 PM IST in Guwahati.