"They (Kerala Blasters) are a good side but we always try to do our best. Hopefully the rain gods will be with us and we will have a good game tomorrow. We are all looking forward to the first home game. The players are very excited," Materazzi said ahead of tomorrow's match at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Talking about the balance of Indian and foreign players in the playing eleven, he said, "For me passport is not important. Only thing that counts is performance. We have a squad of professionals and I am very happy with their attitude. If needed we will play more than five Indians, if they perform well."
"You saw how we played as a team in the first game. Even during the presentation of two of our players we were all together enjoying the moment. We will lose some games on the way but mentally we will always remain strong and remain as a unit," said the 2006 World Cup winner.
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
