Chennai: His side in a strong position for a play-offs berth, Delhi Daynamos coach Roberto Carlos on Monday turned the heat on Chennaiyin FC ahead of their Indian Super League football clash here on Tuesday, saying the pressure will be on the hosts to keep themselves in the fray.
Five points separate Delhi and Chennaiyin as the ISL reaches a crucial stage where the teams scramble for a final-four berth. Delhi are comfortably placed at third with 18 points from 10 matches while Chennaiyin are sixth with 13 points from 11 games.
For Chennaiyin, Tuesday's match is a must-win for them and Carlos made it clear that the home side is under pressure to get results.
"We know the situation. If they go all-out attack, we will play counter-attack. If they play defence, we can have our players positioned as well. The pressure is on Chennai.
They are playing at home and they have to play well. We respect them. We have seen some games of Chennai. Two of their players are vital and the pressure will be there," Carlos said at the match-eve press conference.
"Speaking about my team, we will play to win all our matches. I know the quality and skills of each player. I trust them hundred percent. We can find the best system to play against Chennai tomorrow. Football is a power game and intelligent to watch and make your own strategy," he added.
A win for Delhi will put them in the final-four and Carlos said his first target is to get there.
"It is important for us to make the top four and not worried about first or second or third of fourth. Last year it did not happen and this season it is very balanced. I want to get to the play offs and then think about it," said the Brazilian World Cup winner.
"Last season, we could not get to the play-offs. We have found more balance in the team this year. The 18 points that we have gained is because of the whole group, the players, the support staff. This is the most important thing. As far as scoring goals is concerned, it depends on a lot of things. I do not want to talk about individual players. I think of the team itself," he said.
Asked what he thought of ISL before coming to India, Carlos said, "I was following ISL last season. Last year everything was new but now it is a reality. Try to make it (ISL) bigger every year. It is an exchange of things for imported players, they come here and teach the Indian players and at the same time they are learning about the different Indian culture. I am sure it would be better next year."
Chennaiyin coach Marco Materazzi acknowledged that it would be easy to penetrate the Delhi defence, the meanest in the league.
"Delhi is a very good team. They conceded very few goals.
It will not be easy and it is going to be a tough match. I know what my team is capable of. We do everything we can as we did until now. But, as you know it depends not only on us and it is also other team's results," the Italian said.
"Even though Delhi are not desperate for a win, the benefit of winning tomorrow would be vital if NorthEast beat Goa. Therefore, I expect Delhi to give everything they have," he added.
Asked about the condition of pitch, he said, "I usually do not think too much about pitch conditions as it concerns both the teams. What I like about the last game against Kerala was refereeing because he was not the main character. It means that he is doing the right job."
On the recovery time the players get after each game, Materazzi said, "This is a tournament and this is the rule.
It is for every team. We respect the rules and we know that it is going to be our second final that we are going to face tomorrow."
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