Chennaiyin FC manager Marco Materazzi praised his team for delivering their best and coming out victorious against home side Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) match at the D.Y. Patil Stadium here on Friday.
Forward Steven Mendoza scored a brilliant brace in the 60th minute, followed by his second in the 66th minute to help his side beat Mumbai 2-0 and thus register their second win of the season, which has taken Chennaiyin to the third spot with two wins and two losses.
“I am proud of my boys the way they performed today. Our guys have gathered a lot of confidence from the previous win over FC Goa (4-0) and have delivered today,” Materazzi told reporters at the post match press conference here.
The former Italy international praised his captain Elano Blumer for assisting Mendoza in the first goal and not looking at his own glory.
“All the players are dedicated. We have seen how Elano gave the pass to Mendoza to score and not him scoring. This proves how big a player he is. He played for the team and not for his individual goal.
“Champions like Elano and Mendoza play for the team and not for their personal feat. Not only two players, we perform as a team and have so many young players who have performed for the side. This kind of attitude is needed from the team and I am happy the team is going in the right direction,” he said.
The 2006 World Cup winner also applauded his defence and midfield for not letting Mumbai score and thus keep a clean sheet in two consecutive matches.
“The midfield and the defence worked well not to concede a goal which was our main aim besides scoring. The two played compact and held the Mumbai strikers to not score. It was a great win for us,” Materazzi said.
(IANS)