ISL: We Want More Goals, Says Delhi Dynamos Coach

Buoyed by his team's 4-1 thrashing of Chennaiyin FC in their previous Indian Super League match, Delhi Dynamos coach Harm van Veldhoven today said that his side would go for goals in their match against NorthEast United FC, here on Wednesday.

"I would want my players to continue the momentum. We beat Chennaiyin FC 4-1 in our previous match. We want to score goals tomorrow also. That would compensate our scoring of just one goal in our first two matches," Veldhoven said at the pre-match press conference.

"We played very well against Chennaiyin FC but in football you never know. We cannot be complacent and we have to see that we build on the momentum," he added.

He said, with the teams having played a few matches in the tournament, it has become easier to work strategy against opponents.

"At the beginning of the tournament, you don't know the playing style of teams and the players. But now all the teams have played a few matches and it is a bit easier to prepare ourselves against our opponents," said the Dutch coach.

Veldhoven said the Indian players in his team have performed impressively and that they have been learning things from their international team-mates.

"We have Steven Dias, Shylo (Malswamtluanga), Souvik Das and Anwar Ali and I am really happy with their performance. They are gelling well with the international players and learning a lot for themselves. This will be good for the national team," he said.

Asked if the NorthEast United players would have the advantage as many of their players have been playing together for some time as part of I-League side Shillong Lajong, Veldhoven said, "To a certain extent yes, but after five or six games, every team will be the same. Their will be no advantage by then."

Veldhoven said that having a six feet 10 inches tall goalkeeper in Kristof van Hout of Belgium was an added advantage to his team.

"Hout is a very important part of my team. It is a big advantage that we have him under the bar. When you see his reach when he stands under the bar with his hands spread, then the opposition players will have to be really accurate in their shots to go past him," the coach said.

"He is also good on his feet and he can give accurate passes to the team-mates from his position. So, he has a bright future," he said.

He refused to compare the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium pitch with the ones he have in his country or other European countries.

"Things are different. Here, this pitch is not owned by us (Delhi Dynamos). The AIFF prepared it. You need a lot of money to maintain a pitch. But it is OK, there is no issues on account of pitch. It is working very well and that is what it matters," he added.

Except for Czech Republic player Pavel Elias, who scored the equaliser in Delhi's match against Atletico de Kolkata, all the home team players are fit for Wednesday's game.

Former India international Steven Dias said that the ISL was a totally different ball game from the I-League.

"Playing for Delhi Dynamos in ISL is totally different from playing in I-League. I am having a very different experience in the ISL from I-League. The coach, players and practices, everything is different and I am learning a different thing everyday," he said.