ISL is an adventure, a new challenge: Trezeguet

FLORENCE: Former World Cup winner David Trezeguet of France turns 37 next month but the striker feels he's still got a few more playing years left. He is focussed on his role as marquee player at FC Pune City, and winning the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) for them.
Besides winning the World Cup in 1998, Trezeguet played two more World Cups in 2002 and 2006.A Juventus (Serie A) stalwart started his work with FC Pune City team in Florence, Italy, last week where the entire team had a week-long training camp at Fiorentina.
Excerpts:
Why did you opt for the ISL and what it means to you?
It's going to be a new experience for me ­ technically and human. I treat this as an adventure. It is important to seek and discover new culture, a new place. I hope the young Indian players find it useful and that they become aware of how a professional footballer trains and behaves.
What's your perception of the Indian players?
They are putting in lots of effort. This is only the beginning and I hope they keep growing because they have the ambitions and the means to create better things.
What role can you play here in the ISL in India?
With my kind of experience, I intend to help these young players grow. I wish we could win the League title too! All of us are training hard, making interesting things both physically and tactically. As a group we are building and with a clear target in mind: to win the ISL. We'll do our best.
Are the Indian players up to it for this level of competition alongside international players?
They are eager to learn new things and are putting in sincere efforts. They are building themselves physically. They are also learning a lot of tactical and technical aspects. Our coach (Franco Colomba) has been focusing on these aspects. Some Indian players have shown good potential and commitment to improve. They should use this opportunity of playing alongside the European and South American players so as to blend our skills and their mentality. We hope to make something nice here.
There are some reservations about ISL's merit vis-a-vis Indian football...
We are here to make Indian football more known, more open, and also to prove our quality along with Indian players. I am not worried about public opinion or what others say or write. We are trying to contribute towards the improvement of the League. It will be quite demanding and challenging time for various stakeholders in the league.
Do you envisage a coaching role for you in near future?
I'm totally focused on the new venture for the next three months. I'd love to do something connected to the game but I have to evaluate my strengths in order to know what to do.
How did the training in Florence go?
The overall quality during the friendly match against Fiorentina's junior side was interesting. Gradually the players are understanding what the coach wants.
What do your colleagues teammates back home say to you about joining the ISL?
Well, they all respect my choice to play in the ISL. First I decided to come to India and then many more foreign players decided to do the same. I hope this is a beginning of a great journey to popularise this country to the outside football world as much as possible.