PRE-SEASON TEST: Mixed results don't reveal much, team forging best positive for Chennaiyins
CHENNAIYIN FC ARE BACK to their hometown after they completed their pre-season stint at Perugia, Italy. There over a month's stay they played four friendly matches against local sides who ply their trade in the country's lower leagues.
The boys are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that we're ready for the new season! #CHEinItaly #ItsInOurBlood pic.twitter.com/bF7SEKAHmA
— Chennaiyin FC (@ChennaiyinFC) September 18, 2015
Out of the four matches, they won two and lost the other two. The first match they won against a local non-league side Ortana. The match took place on the 6th of September, at the Stadio Ellera. The match saw the newly-strung Chennaiyin FC side dominate much of the proceedings. Former Atletico de Kolkata striker Fikru Teffera was the one who opened the pre-season scoring business for his new team. His calm finishing act was soon followed up by Augusto to seal a rather comfortable 2-0 victory for the visitors.
The boys played their 1st game of the pre-season tour against local side Ortena, winning the game 2-0. #CHEinItaly pic.twitter.com/3m7gcFAwnD
— Chennaiyin FC (@ChennaiyinFC) September 4, 2015
Their next took place 5 days later, this time against a Serie D outfit called Gualdo Casacastalda. In a well-fought game, Chennaiyin FC conceded twice, while an attractive strike from their Brazilian medio Bruno Pelissari made sure the match remained alive till the very end.
The boys played their 2nd game of our pre-season tour against Italian Serie D side Gualdo Casacastalda! #CHEinItaly pic.twitter.com/m9y7eFDbY8
— Chennaiyin FC (@ChennaiyinFC) September 11, 2015
But going up against an opponent from a division higher, the Abhishek Bachchan co-owned franchise saw their supply lines to the final third effectively shut down. Coach Materazzi tried hard to keep the defence in line, his success was partial, as temporary lapses lead to their opponents, Unione Sportiva Arezzo, taking the match 2-0.
Unfortunately the game ended 2-0 in favour of the Italian side. #CHEinItaly #ItsInOurBlood pic.twitter.com/2KAzsyOzCH
— Chennaiyin FC (@ChennaiyinFC) September 17, 2015
But the last match of their pre-season tour, against Serie D side ASD San Donato Tavarnelle, saw the ISL outfit's offence find its touch at last. With a goal each from Harmanjot Khabra, Bruno Pelissari, Balwant Singh and Jayesh Rane, Chennaiyin managed to finish their pre-season tour of Italy on a high note with a 4-1 big margin win.
The boys finished our pre-season tour in style as they beat Italian Serie D side ASD San Donato Tavarnelle 4-1. pic.twitter.com/WHbo7WpeYg
— Chennaiyin FC (@ChennaiyinFC) September 20, 2015
The significance of these results, however, are still very much up in the air, as there is little frame of reference in comparing the quality of opponents in Italian third or fourth tier and the ISL. But at the end of the day, the pre-season tour saw the players, majority of whom have never played alongside each other before, forge into a unit in the face of difficulties, during a tour of one of the most prominent footballing nations in the world. For coach Materazzi, that would be the biggest takeaway from this pre-season tour.
The table toppers of the first edition will only look forward to pick up where they left off last season and replicate that consistence. The nail-biting loss to Kerala Blasters in the semi-finals will be on the mind of Materazzi, and the last thing he will want is to be cut off at the semis again, or worse, before that. But one-upping the previous season will be a tough ask this time; with the other teams also working hard to field mightier, better prepared squads.
So, with such high expectations, hopes and dreams heaped upon them in the form of adoration from fans, the Chennaiyin FC squad can hardly afford to take a breather, now that they are back home. Because this season's battle is going to be tougher than the last time.
Thanks to our @ChennaiyinFC fans for being there around 3:40 am last night to welcome us at the airport . #Respect pic.twitter.com/Q5H3NSRicv
— GODWIN FRANCO (@GodwinFranco7) September 22, 2015
