New Delhi, Oct 12: Pavlos Dermitzakis, head coach of Punjab FC, believes that his side is in great shape and form as the Shers take on Odisha FC in the opening match of this season. The Greek head coach is trying to build a squad which is built around the backing a squad built around homegrown talent to compete against the best.

“We have created a very capable squad, and we will try to win every game. I believe our team can compete for the championship,” Dermitzakis said ahead of the season opener. Keeping up from the last season, the club has continued to back homegrown talents in this season as well. The club recently announced a 27-member squad, out of which 10 players are coming from the academy.

“Our target is clear. Since we have created a very capable squad, we will try to win every game.” Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Punjab FC head coach shared the tactical tweaks ahead of the season opener against Odisha FC.

Head Coach Happy With Local Talents Making The Mark

The head coach was also very jubilant with the massive success that the club has managed to achieve over the last few months in the Indian football circuit. Two of the players, Ricky Shabong and Bijoy Varghese, who have been an integral part of the Punjab FC setup, recently represented the national team.

“I am very happy that Punjab FC have two representatives in the senior national team, along with six or seven players in the Under-21 national team. The entire club is proud of their achievements,” the head coach said.

The Greek tactician also lauded the players who are representing the national team in the U-21 and U-23 levels and said that the club is trying to build a holistic development of talent across different levels.

“This is an important part of our development plan. We believe these players have the potential to progress further. Maintaining a strong presence in the national teams is important for the club and reflects the work Punjab FC have been doing over the past few years,” he said.

Only One Philosophy In Mind: Winning

The coach also emphasised his preference for possession-based, combination-oriented football while underlining the importance of tactical flexibility in the Indian game.

“Our philosophy is to play good, attractive football. We should enjoy ourselves, and the fans should enjoy watching and following us. At the same time, we must maintain balance in every phase of the game,” he said.

“Indian football tends to be more direct and relies heavily on transitions, but we want to offer something different through a combination-based approach. However, we can also play directly when required. The key is to adapt to the situation while keeping one objective in mind: winning.”