The methods that we use in the Indian National Team are very similar to Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City
Danny Deigan, the sports scientist
from Australia, who has played a crucial role behind raising the fitness levels
of the Blue Tigers in the recent past, informed that the methods followed in
the National Team’s sessions are “very similar” to what is followed in some of
the leading Clubs of the world -- Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester
City.
“After visiting a number of EPL
clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, I can say that
the methods that we use in the Indian National Team are very similar to them,”
Deigan stated. “It’s important to take note of the output against the top teams
in Asia so that we can replicate them, and even do better in the upcoming Asian
Cup,” he said at India’s ongoing preparatory camp for the forthcoming AFC Asian
Cup UAE 2019 in Abu Dhabi.
It was in fact, Stephen
Constantine who had suggested that “we need our players in the best of their
shapes to run for 90 minutes.”
“If you can't run, you can't fight
on the pitch. The effect of the tests and the results have been great for us.
The credit goes to Danny’s effort in the past three years, and Joel Carter
since earlier this year to raise the bar,” the coach commented. “Moreover, Gigy
(George), Pratik (Kamble) and Liaqat (Ali) who have also put in their efforts
to keep the players up and running,” the Coach commented.
On being asked about the regime
which the team follows regularly, Deigan informed the regular screenings are
conducted every morning “to assess the physical conditions.”
“We run a screening every morning
to assess the physical conditions of the players before the day's training. At
the training, we start with a physical warm-up session that leads to the main
training. After the training, we go on to analyse the physical condition of
every player individually.”