Nikhil Prabhu Discusses Punjab FC's Winning Mentality: 'We Consider Ourselves the Best in the League'
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New Delhi, Dec 1 (NationPress) After Punjab FC's significant 3-0 victory over Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena, a clip surfaced on social media featuring head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis, where the Greek manager was heard asserting, 'I told you we’re the best.' to his squad.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Punjab FC midfielder Nikhil Prabhu shared insights into the team’s mentality, highlighting the transformative impact of Dilmperis on the Shers' gameplay.
'The coach consistently emphasizes the importance of self-belief, stating that we should not adjust to our opponents; rather, they must adapt to us. He reassures us that we are the best team in the league, which serves as a strong source of motivation. While we may struggle as individual players, our strength lies in our teamwork.'
'Unity is our greatest asset. When one player falters, it affects the entire squad. This is why he proclaims that we are the best team in the league; he never singles out anyone as the best player. We truly believe we are the best team in the league,' Nikhil told IANS.
After finishing their inaugural season in the lower tier of the Indian Super League standings, the team has remarkably turned things around under their new head coach, currently sitting in fourth place in the table, with one game less than the top two teams, Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan, and two games in hand over third-placed NorthEast United FC. Their upcoming matches are against Mohammedan SC and Jamshedpur.
The team has also demonstrated defensive resilience, conceding only nine goals this season, ranking them third in the least goals conceded category. Prabhu elaborated on how Dilmperis has contributed to enhancing the team’s defensive capabilities this season.
'We prefer building from the back, which reduces our defensive responsibilities the more we possess the ball. We are experimenting with new strategies in training, focusing on maintaining ball control. This is a significant improvement from last year when we struggled to keep possession. We were playing direct football, but now we are dictating our style of play and allowing our opponents to adapt to us,' he added.
