Mumbai: It’s important to have a good squad but equally crucial is that all players in the team are fit and available to play every game in the ISL according to Mumbai City FC’s marquee player and former Uruguay star Digeo Forlan.
“You play many games in a short period (in ISL) and also travel a lot. That’s not easy. Everyone needs to be fit and available for every game. That’s very important,” said the 37-year-old, who had guided his country into the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“This is a nice schedule, a different type of tournament. Hopefully, many players can play many games, but it’s not easy. You get tired quickly. The way they are running the tournament, it’s new for me. So for me it is important to remain injury-free,” the player added.
Forlan has replaced French star Nicolas Anelka as Mumbai’s marquee player. He had a pre-season training stint with the rest of the squad members in Dubai where the team won two and drew as many games.
“This is my second time in India. I had been here (Kolkata) in 2010. We have a mix of good Indian and foreign players. “I know the club did not qualify for the play-offs and that’s the challenge – to qualify and do our best,” asserted Forlan, whose spectacular goal against Germany in the 2010 World Cup was voted as the best in that competition. Forlan, with five goals strikes, was also that edition’s joint top scorer.
Confirming that he had offers to play elsewhere Forlan, who has turned out for top European club sides such as Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan in the past, said he chose India after having seen some ISL games on TV.
“I had (other) offers, but preferred coming here. I had been watching some games before, when I was living in Japan and then in Uruguay. There are many good players and many people inside the stadium. That’s what caught my attention,” informed the Uruguayan.
Press Trust of India