“Better to play here than sit there”: Pritam Kotal feels right at home at Chennaiyin FC after Kerala Blasters move

“Better to play here than sit there”: Pritam Kotal feels right at home at Chennaiyin FC after Kerala Blasters move

After holding Mohun Bagan Super Giant to a goalless draw at home, it was clear which player had become an instant fan favourite among Chennaiyin FC’s faithful.

“Pritam Kotal, Pritam Kotal!” The cheers rang out after the full-time whistle in the Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.

Just two days after completing a move from Kerala Blasters, the 31-year-old defender from Uttarpara, West Bengal, found himself in the thick of things at Chennaiyin. But he wasn’t one to be intimidated.

“I practised for two days, and the coach believed in me and started me in the game. I feel good that I’ve been able to contribute to the team. My goal is to help Chennaiyin and take it to a good position,” Pritam told reporters after the match.

Facing the side he had captained to the Indian Super League Cup two years ago made things easier for Pritam on his debut in Chennaiyin colours. “It did help [knowing the MBSG players]. The last two days were spent planning and talking with the players. But the threat of any Mohun Bagan player coming and turning the match is always there. All of them are champion players, but we needed to keep our focus for the entire 90 minutes.”

Playing the entire match against the Mariners, first as a right-back and then slotting in as a centre-back after Elsinho sustained a blow to his eye, the India international didn’t allow his opponent to dribble past him. Moreover, he was part of a backline that helped Chennaiyin keep its third clean sheet of the season.

“I would like to thank the fans and the coach for believing in me. I started as a right-back and then played in the centre, but I will always want the best for the team. The results don’t hinge on individual performances, but on how we all work together,” said Pritam, who usually prefers to play as a centre-back.

It was a welcome defensive display from Chennaiyin FC, especially after conceding late goals against Odisha FC and Mohammedan SC in its last two fixtures. Pritam felt that a win is what the side needs to get going. “There’s a bit of bad luck, but that’s fine. If we can pick up three points in the next match, it will help our confidence,” he said.

When asked about his mid-season move to Chennaiyin and his two-and-a-half-year deal with Owen Coyle’s side, Pritam began with a smile and pondered his answer for a few seconds.

“The coach [Coyle] wanted me when I was with the Blasters. It’s better to come here and play than to sit there [at Kerala Blasters]. That’s the reason,” Pritam concluded.

During the league phase of the 2022-23 ISL season, the defender clocked 1800 minutes in 20 appearances, averaging 90 minutes per match. After moving to Kerala Blasters the following season, this number dropped to roughly 75 minutes per match (1355 minutes in 18 appearances).

In the ongoing season, it decreased slightly to 72 minutes (1012 minutes in 14 appearances) before his transfer.

Cheers of “Pritam Kotal, Pritam Kotal!” were heard once again when he walked back to the team bus after a tiring day at the office, ahead of Chennaiyin FC’s visit to second-placed FC Goa on the weekend.