ISL 5: Brace for more of Tiki-taka

Mumbai: Spain achieved World Cup success with Tiki-taka football in 2010 but they couldn’t replicate the same in the following two quadrennial events in Brazil and Russia. However it remains the most preferred style in the football crazy European country.

Indian fans have felt that style through influx of Spanish players in Indian Super League but they are set to witness more of it in the fifth season of Indian Super League. Five franchises in the 10-team ISL have Spanish head coaches. The coaches couldn’t hide their liking for possession football and revealed it suited Indian players who share the same built as Spanish players and are technically sound but tactically need to improve.

Last season semi-finalist FC Goa is the only side among them, which has retained Spanish coach Sergio Lobera. They haven’t made too many changes to the squad and are likely to play more of possession football. They had good scoring form in ISL IV but leaked too many goals. “I have worked with Lobera and I know his style of play. We want to recreate last year’s style of play and want to be more tight at the back,” said FC Goa, assistant coach Jesus Tato, who played with FC Pune City in ISL III.

“Spanish players aren’t heavily built like some other countries and kind of share the physique with Indian players. Having played in the ISL and now into coaching, I feel this style suits Indian players. Though it is hard for them to learn tactics as we in Spain are used to it since we start playing but here they are getting used to it,” Tato added.

Spanish midfielder Marcos Tebar, who is back in Delhi Dynamos after helping them to reach semis in ISL III, echoed Tato’s remarks.

“Indian players are technically good but it is tough for them to learn tactics quickly. However they are coping it well and there has been good change since ISL III,” said Marcos who was part of FC Goa last season.

Delhi Dynamos will also have not much problem in adapting the Spanish style of play as they had Miguel Angel Portugal as head coach in the previous season. They struggled in the first half but picked up towards the end.

Now fellow Spanish coach Josep Gombau has come and he holds same philosophy.

“I want to continue on similar lines (as Portugal),” Gombau said.

Portugal also wants continue with his ball possession philosophy in his new team FC Pune City despite his previous team getting hammered in the earlier part of the previous season.

Even Mumbai City’s Portugese coach Jorge Costa couldn’t hide his liking for possession football.