Times of India | 1 week ago | 13-05-2022 | 02:26 am
Panaji: Churchill Brothers and Antonio Rueda are keen to extend their partnership beyond this season with the Spanish coach already targeting the next edition of the I-League. Rueda took charge of the team on April 1 and started with a 4-2 win against Neroca FC. Until then, the team was struggling to stitch together a run of wins, but the Spanish coach turned it around with five wins in a row. “I am very happy at Churchill Brothers and find the project very interesting,” Rueda told TOI on Thursday. “The president, manager, players are all incredible here. I hope I can continue here. For me, it will be one more interesting opportunity, a chance to win the I-League for the club. “I am taking English lessons during the summer to improve my language which will help me communicate effectively with everyone. It’s not just that the wins are mine. I am behind the (previous) losses too. I have been working with the team since February.” Rueda’s arrival in India was delayed due to Covid-19, but once he recovered and joined the team, Churchill have seen massive transformation. In the last nine games that the Spaniard has taken charge, Churchill have won seven, drawing once against Gokulam Kerala FC and losing against Mohammedan Sporting, the top two teams. A point will now be enough for Churchill against Sreenidi Deccan on Friday to finish third. “The players have put in incredible efforts in such a tight and difficult season. This year has been very tough with Gokulam (Kerala) and Mohammedan (Sporting) now in a position to win the league. It’s not possible for us this season, but I hope to win next season surely,” said Rueda. Churchill midfielder Saurav Mandal was all praise for the Spanish coach and said the team could have been fighting for the top spot in the concluding league clash, rather than the third place. “After the coach came in, he analysed the weak points and told us what we need to do, and what not to do,” said Saurav. “He told us about our strengths and that was the turning point for the players. Before the coach joined us, we were the same players. If we had him for pre-season, we could have been champions or in a better position. We didn’t get the start we wanted.” Sreenidi registered a 3-1 win against title-chasing Gokulam Kerala on Tuesday, which coach Fernando Santiago Varela terming it as “the best performance of the season from not just Sreenidi, but all teams in the I-League.” Rueda expects a tough game against a Sreenidi side high on confidence after their big win against leaders Gokulam Kerala.
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