Here to improve Indian footballers, says Carlos

FIFA World cup 2002 winner with Brazil and presently coach cum player of Delhi Dynamos, Roberto Carlos on Wednesday said he is here to help Indian footballers improve their skills and enhance their physical abilities.

The 42-year-old has been following the Indian Super League (ISL) from last year and feels it is better and bigger this season.

"Since last year I have been following the ISL. I have seen a lot of good games here. This year it is even better. ISL is a league that's seen everywhere in the world. And I am here to improve the quality of the league. At the same time, we have to help the Indian players improve their skill set and physically try and make them stronger," Carlos said ahead of their clash against defending champions Atletico de Kolkata at the Salt Lake stadium on Thursday.

Speaking about Dynamos striker Robin Singh, who seems to have run out of gas in the last few games, Carlos said: "He came back from the national squad, and then scored against pune. But his rhythm seems to have got lower a bit since then. He is one of the leaders in my team so I want much more from him. Whatever he will learn from here he had to take this and replicate it for the national squad. He still has to improve a lot, " Carlos said.

Speaking about the other heavyweight teams in the competition the former Brazilian left-back said: "The league is here is very equal. The team which has impressed me the most is Pune. Then there is Chennai. Goa are also one of the favourites this time around with my dad Zico coaching them (laughs). The league has a lot of quality and I want my team to get into playoff and be the champions obviously."

On asked why scoring goals have been a problem for his outfit, the Real Madrid legend Carlos said: "I have to congratulate the opponents for defending very well. They know how we play. They know the skills of my players. So it has been difficult scoring goals. It also depends on my players who need to move better and faster so that they can score more."

Carlos also said that he has recovered from his injury and will play in the match against ATK.

Carlos also fondly remembered winning the World Cup in 2002 and said light heartedly that he recollects only the good memories from his playing days.

" I remember only 2002 and winning the World Cup and the defeat (in 2006 against France) we never talk about it. I only remember my picture with the trophy, holding it like a baby. I never talk about bad things in life.

"The life of human being is marked by wins and defeats. Those who have played top level football have learnt from those wins and losses those who are used to play top football we learnt through defeats. Also in 2006 we didnt have a strong team. We were a tired side, too many games in a row for those players like Ronaldhino, Kaka, Rivaldo all were very tired. But 2002 was awesome," he said.

Carlos believes that his countryman Elano Blumer is the closest to him in terms of striking lethal freekicks.

He refused to compare legends like Pele, Diego Maradona but added French man and former Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane was a class apart.

"Hard to compare the likes of Pele and Maradona. For me I was never that good, was a normal player but I was lucky to play with the best and work with the best coaches in the world as well. But Zidane was something different," he said.

When asked about Pele saying that the present Brazilian team is finding it difficult to gel together, Carlos added, "He is the king of football. Hard to comment on anything the king says."