MUMBAI, Oct 9 (PTI): Indian defender Gouramangi Singh is confident that the mix of top foreign players and their lesser-known Indian counterparts would gell well gradually to make Chennaiyin FC a force to reckon with in the Indian Super League starting on Sunday.
�It�s a month now that we have been training together. Earlier there were 3-4 foreigners in a team (I-League), now there are larger numbers. I would say the quality of training or intensity is much higher,� said the 28-year-old central defender here today.
�But we are just training now and the real thing will start on the 12th. Things will fall into place slowly. Let�s see how things go in the first couple of games.�
Gouramangi said he was not really thinking about whether he can be in the starting XI in a line-up that has some top defeders such as World Cup-winning Italian great Marco Materazzi, who is the team�s player-manager, and ex-Paris Saint Germain stalwart Bernard Mendy to do the job.
�I don�t think about getting into the starting XI. Everyone is pushing hard. Let�s see on (October) 15th who plays,� said the defender from Imphal.
He was referring to Chennayin�s opening league clash against FC Goa in the latter�s backyard - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda.
Gourmangi said though more time would have been better in preparing the team, no one was complaining.
�I would love to have had 2-3 months training before the tournament but it�s not the case. We can�t be complaining about it,� he said.
