ISL: Depleted Dynamos face stiff Chennaiyin test
NEW DELHI: Delhi Dynamos still have six games to play before they can close the chapter on what has been an Indian Super League (ISL) campaign best consigned to the scrap heap. With a play-offs spot all but out of reach, they take on a Chennaiyin FC side that are motivated to move one step closer to sealing their own spot in the knockout stages.
To make matters worse, the home side will be without quite a few key players going into what is sure to be a tough game for them.
“We will be without Nanda Kumar, Edu Moya, Pritam Kotal, Pratik Chaudhary and Albino Gomes. We will be playing with an almost new defence tomorrow,” said Dynamos head coach Miguel Angel Portugal at the prematch press conference.
Despite the fact that the home side will be without the abovementioned players and have struggled for form all season, Chennaiyin coach John Gregory believed his side would have to work hard. “Delhi played well when they came to Chennai a few weeks ago. The team is littered with talent; unfortunately things haven’t gone their way.”
Gregory also made it clear that he won’t be resting too many key players in the upcoming games as his side look to seal a spot in the knockout rounds.
“I always believe in playing my best team, so it wouldn’t make a difference tomorrow. Everyone’s fit, we’re all healthy, and the only player we’re missing is the skipper (Henrique Soreno), who is out with suspension.”
Delhi’s attractive style of play has been praised by many, but their inability to defend set-pieces as well as their lack of killer instinct up front has been their main undoing, according to their coach. The Dynamos recently signed Manuel Arana on loan from FC Goa and released Guyon Fernandez, but what effect this has on the side’s dwindling fortunes for the rest of the campaign remains to be seen.
Given their position in the table, Delhi will go into the game with nothing to play for but pride but as John Gregory pointed out, such teams are often harder to beat. “You would usually say that they’ve nothing to play for but pride and professionalism, but their squad is a good one. We expect them to try and win the match tomorrow.”