Catala's brutal truth: 'I don't care if they're 17 or 36' | OneFootball

Catala's Candid Approach: "I'll Choose the Best 11 Regardless of Age or Nationality"

Kerala Blasters head coach David Catala has made it clear that his primary focus is on results rather than player development, stating that he will select the strongest possible team regardless of nationality or age.

"It's true that Indian players need to develop and grow. On whether it's my responsibility, it's not. I will use the best 11 players who I feel can put up the best performance. I don't care if they are 17 years old or 36," Catala said in a recent interview.

The Spaniard, who became the club's third head coach this season after Mikael Stahre and interim coach T.G. Purushothaman, emphasized that player development should be addressed at an institutional level.

"This is something the club has to look into. The basics are to invest in the academies. You have a lot of population here and for sure you will have good players, but they need to have the basis to grow," he explained.

Despite this stance, Catala expressed his willingness to work with young talent, adding: "I like to work with young players and help them develop. If they show me that they can play, I'll be the first to give them the chance."

Catala's tenure with Kerala Blasters began positively with a 2-0 victory over defending champions East Bengal in the Super Cup. This win provided some relief for fans after a disappointing Indian Super League campaign where the team finished eighth, following three consecutive playoff appearances under former coach Ivan Vukomanovic.

The new coach acknowledged the need for improvement across all areas of the team and discussed his tactical philosophy: "I like to play possession-based football. When you have the ball, you will have more possibilities to score than your opponent, but one has to adapt to the league."

Catala revealed he consulted with fellow Spanish coaches who have ISL experience, including Manolo Marquez and Carles Cuadrat, before taking the position. He noted differences in the league compared to his previous experiences, stating: "Whatever I have seen so far, the rhythm is not so high. But it's another league and it's very competitive."

When asked about the pressure of managing a club with a passionate fanbase, Catala remained unfazed: "You will have pressure all the time, it doesn't matter if you are here or in any other country. People want results and they will be happy if you win games. I like the pressure and the expectations are very high, but we have to handle that."

Source: SportStar