Former Brazil defender and FC Goa marquee player Lucio said on Saturday that Indian players must aim to fully utilise their talent in order to achieve better on-field results.
"I have got a very good impression on the Indian players. They are hard working and talented. They need to transfer their talent into on-field results," Lucio told reporters here.
"What you do on the field matters more than anything else. Training just sharpens you up but what matters is performance on field," he said.
After playing for top clubs like Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen, the 37-year-old said FC Goa coach and Brazil legend Zico was one of the primary reasons behind his decision to feature in the Indian Super League (ISL).
"Zico is a tough coach. Various coaches and trainers have different tactics. He was one of the primary reasons I am here. Zico is tough mentally and has a tough attitude. He is very well in helping the players focus on the task at hand," he said.
"I am basically a defender and I would be happy to score if I get an opportunity. I hope we as a unit will give our 100 percent and win the league," he said.
Zico meanwhile, believes that the ISL has had a good start in the inaugural season last year and needs to keep performing the same way if they are to challenge the other top leagues in the world.
"The ISL is contributing hugely to Indian football. It will take time for the league to reach that top level. But the way the league has started and going on, if it carries on like this I hope a time will come when ISL will be able to challenge other leagues in the world," Zico said.
Speaking about the club's preparations he said,"All the players are in good shape and performing well in the training. I hope they carry on doing the same thing when they will take the field in the matches ahead."
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
