"What's wrong with our receiving? What's wrong with our passing in the opponent's half? Why are we being so casual?" These are some of the questions a disappointed Jagbir Singh raised after India's scrappy win against Malaysia on Wednesday.
An Indian defence that appeared shredded to pieces was saved the blushes by Jasjit Singh's twin strikes off short corners, but it didn't blanket the gaping holes in the Indian wall at the backline exposed by the Malaysians.
"A player like Birendra Lakra making such mistakes, then what do I expect from youngsters!" Jagbir questioned India's defensive skills in an interview with IBNLive Sports.
"Overcautious!" Jagbir described Indian defence in one word. "Fear of mistakes, the world watching us," he said pointing at the absence of VR Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh in the backline. While Raghunath is back home injured, Rupinder is on the bench in Antwerp nursing an injury.
"Our defence feels their roles have increased, which is not good. They feel they have to run ahead with the ball," the former India striker explained on the technical front. "Also, why is our defence doing rush tackles. We are mis-passing at turnovers. Defenders have to be cool and attackers have to be aggressive. You can't play overcautiously whether the last 30 seconds or first 30.
"Enjoy the game, don't take pressure," the Olympian advised.
India have already qualified for Rio Olympics by virtue of their Asian Games gold. Could it be complacency creeping in with that thought at the back of players' mind? Jagbir said in such a comforting situation you can't fault the coach for testing players.
"We have qualified for Rio. Coach has to take a call which players he has to test and try where. He has to do it and he [Paul van Ass] is doing it. But the players shouldn't forget basics in such tests. That brings frustration to the coach.
"With time, one not only has to progress but also perform to the plan," he said.
Jagbir also went on to say that Van Ass brings his own style; and since it's been just a few month for him in the job and the Hockey World League being his first major assignment, it will take time for the players and the coach to sync up.
"Every coach has his own style and expectations from players. What Jose Brasa had can't be with [Michael] Nobbs, same with Terry Walsh and Van Ass, and also Roelant Oltmans. Every player takes time to understand his coach and vice versa," Jagbir explained.
But Jagbir reminded that at the end of the day India have qualified for the semi-finals at Antwerp.
"I am watching the glass half-full because we are in the semi-final of a major tournament. It's going to be a very tough call [against hosts Belgium] the way we are playing in patches.
"For India, it could be the final. Belgium are one of the toughest teams in today's modern hockey to beat. They are playing at home and performing consistently of late," he said.
"Not to forget, we are dragging ourselves without a drag-flicker," he signed off with a reminder.
Comments
0 comment