Carlos to be marquee-player-cum-manager for Delhi Dynamos

He may be well past his prime but Brazil’s World Cup winner Roberto Carlos today said he is “still mentally strong” to double up as Delhi Dynamos’ marquee manager-cum-player in the second season of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) football.

Asked if he still practice his once famous curling free kicks which had fetched him several goals in his playing days, the 42-year-old Carlos said, “I do training everyday. At 42 years of age, the quality is a bit down but I am still mentally strong.”

Carlos, who was here to take part in the first Player Auction of the ISL, said that he does regular training and wants to play also besides coaching.

“I am a serious trainer and I have coached some clubs after retirement. But I also want to play. Indian people need to see the best from Carlos. They will see Carlos playing,” he said at a media conference through an interpreter.

Carlos, a member of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning team, had coached Russia’s Anzhi Makhachkala and Turkish sides Sivasspor and Akhisar Belediyespor.

Apparently, the Delhi Dynamos have informed the ISL that Carlos will be their marquee manager cum player. The Delhi side has not signed any marquee international player so far though there is still time to do that till July 31.

He said the quality of the Indian players was high but they need motivation to perform.

“Quality of Indian players is very high. They need to show motivation to perform at the highest level. I will try to take the best quality out of the players and show it to the world that India can do well in football,” he said.

Talking about the ISL player auction, he said, “I have not had this kind of experience earlier. It (ISL) will be my first event in India and I am looking to do my best.

“We are getting the players we want. Whatever players we took at the auction and in the draft was pre-planned,” he said when asked why he did not go for players like India captain and striker Sunil Chhetri.

Carlos spoke in Portuguese in the media conference and asked if language barrier could be a handicap to convey his ideas to the players, he said, “There is only one language in football. That is called football language and that is to win, to win and to win.”