ISL is the one giving more quality and standards, claims Carles Cuadrat
Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat has stated that the Indian Super League has provided quality to national team and fans and it deserved to get the top-tier status. Apart from that, the Spanish gaffer also stressed on the extremely long break between two seasons which affects players.
The conclusion of the previous ISL season was followed massive protests and rifts between the AIFF, I-League and the FSDL concerning who would be getting the top-tier status in the country. Eventually, I-League clubs were stripped of it and it was handed to ISL with the league opening in 2023 where I-League would be getting a chance to be promoted to the top tier.
Cuadrat, who sounded delighted with the decision, stated that ISL has been the better league in terms of standard and being a talent pool for the national team. “I am very glad with the decision. In my opinion, ISL is the one that is giving more quality, more standards. It is making players more and more competitive. If you see, all the national team players are coming from the Super League,” he said, Sportstar.
“I have all the respect for the clubs in I-League. We have also played in I-League before. But times change, a new era is coming and Indian Super League is doing a great job in improving football in the country. I feel it is something that is going to do good for Indian football. With the new plan, by 2023 everything can become fully normal with more team participating and more games to be held which will be better for the teams, supporters and the national team,” he added.
Apart from that, Cuadrat also stressed upon the much-debated issue of the extremely long break between two ISL seasons. There were more than seven months gap between the last two seasons and Cuadrat has stated that no team would be playing to their full potential in the initial few games.
“For this season, we have all the teams playing with the same condition. There is not one team who has started early because of the AFC Cup. Unfortunately, Chennaiyin went out of the competition. All the teams in India will start with the Super League and are training at the same time. So for the first game we may not be 100% fit, but with competition we are going to get to that level,” he added.
