Delhi Dynamos defender Anas Edathodika deserves to be in the Indian national team after being a consistent performer in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL), the team’s marquee player-coach Roberto Carlos said after a 3-1 win over FC Pune City here on Thursday.
Anas headed in Dynamos’ second goal in a comfortable victory at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium and Carlos felt the Keralite defender deserves a chance in the national squad.
Carlos, however, said it was only his opinion and has no idea if India’s coach Stephen Constantine would pick him or not.
“Anas is playing very well. He deserves an opportunity in the national squad. But it is only my opinion. Don’t know what Constantine will do,” he said after his team’s win here.
Carlos also expressed his satisfaction at his team’s performance saying that the Indian players of his team are all developing fast and learning quickly.
“Anas, Souvik Chakrabarty, Seminlen Doungel all the Indian players are maturing very quickly. I am happy with their progress.”
Carlos also said he was hoping his team will maintain the momentum in their next game away at Chennai against Chennaiyin FC.
His counterpart David Platt wasn’t so enthusiastic after the deflating loss saying that his team paid dearly for the mistakes committed by his defenders in the first half.
“We are not lacking in motivation or spirit. We conceded two goals from set pieces which were easily avoidable. After that we had a mountain to climb. We tried to score in the first half and pushed forward but were exposed at the back.”