Addressing the media at the team launch function at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here, Materazzi said, "We had a good season last year after being the last team to enter the fray and we did not have enough time to practice. This year we had programmed our training sessions well in advance and worked more time to be together in football."
"We are ready to show our performances on the pitch and do everything possible to avoid injuries and win the title. I have full faith in my players to have a successful campaign," said the Italian World Cup winner.
The club had a month long pre-season camp in Perugia, Italy.
"We had extensive training sessions in Italy this time. We focused on specific areas and importantly we worked towards avoiding injuries. We will try to avoid injuries as compared to last year. We cannot guarantee 100 per cent against getting injured. We will do our best this year," he said.
On his being second year as a coach of the side, he said, "It is not easy to be a coach. I have had many coaches in my time. I was seeking opinions and advises from Elano Blumer but once he was injured I did not have his assistance on field. These things happen.
Talking about the pitch, Materazzi said, "Now there has been lot of improvement on the playing arena. There are lot of improvements. We will be training at the Nehru Park, which has come up for this season."
Responding to a question on whether there was a lot of pressure on the team, Elano said, "Last year we scored the most number of goals in the league. This year we will concentrate on defence too and the team will be balanced and all areas taken care of.
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
