Goa : The seventh edition of the Hero Indian Super League has already begun. Odisha FC had a fair performance last season but couldn’t qualify for the play-offs. This season they have signed some big players of the game to set their side on fire for the season. In the pre-match press conference against Hyderabad FC, club captain Steven Taylor has shared his experience and the possibilities for Odisha FC in the Hero Indian Super League.
Steven Taylor has been a popular name in English top-flight football. The central defender started his career at the Newcastle United academy and played in the first team for 13 seasons before leaving the club in 2016, with 216 matches and scoring 13 times for the club. The man from London has got tons of experience of playing in Australian A-League and with big players of the game.
During the Pre-match press conference when a journalist asked him about the climatic condition of India compared to England and Australia, Taylor gave a swift reply. He said, ” No No not actually, you have to accept the humidity and the conditions. If you keep thinking about the weather conditions it will effect you natural game. You just need to get on with it and have to deal with that.”
With tons of experience in top-flight football, Odisha FC made no hesitation on selecting him as the Captain of the side this season. Odisha FC lacked good leader since their introduction so Taylor is a good choice for the club. When asked about it he said, ” It’s a huge responsibility. We have to set the standards and values so that it take away the pressure of my teammates and lead by example. I think when I will do that hope all the teammates will follow it.”
The man from London has spent 13 years at the ST. James Park. With an experience to play with Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Michel Owen; Taylor was asked how he will use it in the ISL and for his side, he said,” I have been working with some majors players and pick out my best beats and try to put it in for the team. And obviously with a coach like, Stuart Baxter, the experience which he has got, its a gain and will help to improve me as a player. And for the young Indian players it will be beneficial too.”
Taylor was a part of the Wellington Phoenix’s side from 2018-20 in the A-League. His former teammates Roy Krishna and David Williams came up with a revelation in Indian football with their gameplay last season. So when asked about his former A-League teammates and colleagues he said, ” Obviously my former teammates Dave Williams, Roy Krishna and Garry Hooper. The way Dave and Krishna played last season in the ISL has been fantastic. They are top quality professionals and the performance he carried out last year was just outstanding. And Garry Hooper his CV just speaks for himself. A top quality player so it will be a test for me, it will never be an easy game for me as a defender and this ISL will be really hard and will be an exciting challenge.”
Being the leader in the defence, Taylor knows that he have to lead the whole team from the back, so when asked about his role as a key member of the squad he said, ” We will win as a team, loose as a team and also defend as a unit. It will a rollercoaster, we will have some highs and some lows but we have to stick together. My experience to game will be helpful along with other foreign players and hopefully we can pass on the information to other young Indian players. It’s going to be a long season but boys are ready to face the challenge ahead.”
Odisha FC will start their ISL campaign against Hyderabad FC on Monday. With a team of youth and experience, things might be different this time for them.
