‘5 months without working is too much.. finally, we can do what we love,’ says Kerala Blasters head coach

Since he was appointed head coach of Kerala Blasters in late March, David Catala has spent most of his time with his family in Spain. It wasn't by choice, but rather a decision made on his behalf by the stakeholders of Indian football due to uncertainty over the start of the Indian Super League (ISL).

While Catala, on a one-year contract, couldn't prepare for the ISL campaign, for which he had been brought to the country, he kept himself occupied by watching the matches from the previous ISL season and ensuring the staff kept in contact with the players. Now back in the country after a lengthy vacation, Catala is running a camp in Goa with the available players for the Super Cup knockout competition, starting October 25. Catala spoke to Onmanorama about the preparations and period away from action.

Excerpts from the interview

How does it feel to be back in action after an extended vacation?
It is a big relief. It is fantastic to be back. Finally, we can do what we love, that is, training and being with the team.

It was difficult, after a long break. We didn't know what will happen, about the league and everything.

Your Kerala Blasters job began with a Super Cup. Now, after the break, you resume with another Super Cup campaign. Does it feel strange?
It is true that this is not the ideal scenario; the normal calendar that you have to follow all the time, where you have pre-season then the league and during the league, maybe you have the Cup.

But it is what it is. We need to adapt.

For me, right now, the important thing is to start working with the players and forget about the results and the cup. The first target is to be ready and get better each day.

Is the Super Cup, Kerala Blasters' chance to land the first trophy?
It is always a motivation to try and win a trophy, and we are here for that. But we have to be realistic about the situation we are in right now. We have been five months without training.

I repeat myself, for me the most important thing is to work with the players, to try to build a good team, and after that my intention is to compete and win every game. And this has to be the mentality of the players. For me, to start talking about start winning cups in the second day of the training makes no sense. I can understand the desire of the people, of the fans... I would like to fight and we're going to do it, for titles and victories. But right now, we cannot rush and take it day by day. We have 20 days to prepare the team.

How did you spend five months without football? Did you maintain contact with the players?
Five months is too much.. without working. I love doing my job, but it is difficult.

I spend my time with family in Spain. I think I watched all the games from the last ISL season because I had plenty of time.

We were in contact with the players all the time. Our physical coach has been in contact with the players every week ... to try to be fit and to not lose the contact, which to me is important.

You need to keep the contact with the players to see how they feel, how they are, because for them also it is difficult to be long time without training.

Not just with the players, the physical coach and me have been in contact every day. But I see them quite motivated for the start of the season. After a long break, the desire is bigger.

You lost Jesus Jimenez and Kwame Peprah, two key attackers. You have brought in two forwards to replace them. Tell us about them.
For me the most important thing is the hunger. I see that they are gonna come here with a big hunger to achieve big things. Especially Tiago (Tiago Alexandre Mendes Alves), who has been long time without competing, but if you see his face, you can notice he is ready to be back again.

Koldo (Obieta) has been in Spain, I know him. He is a great guy. He is going to give us a lot. I'm very excited they are with the team .

You haven't experienced playing in front of the home fans.
Unfortunately, I have to wait. Everything the people are telling me about the fans is amazing. To be honest I imagine the day I'm going to be in a full stadium, to be with the fans. I hope to make them enjoy because that is the most important for us to make them believe that the team is alive and ready to compete.