ISL 2022-23: El Khayati’s hunger has impressed me: Chennaiyin FC head coach Thomas Brdaric

Chennaiyin FC head coach Thomas Brdaric has lauded El Khayati’s performances for the club in the ongoing season of Hero ISL 2022-23. Brdaric revealed that El Khayati’s hunger has impressed him the most.

El Khayati continued his good show for Marina Machans as he scored a fine hat-trick to help his team beat NorthEast United FC by 7-3 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on Saturday.

The Dutch player has scored seven goals in six matches in the ongoing season of the ISL and he is the leading goal-scorer of the tournament. Furthermore, he has provided four assists and he has played a key role in the success of the team.

Sharing his thoughts on the performances of El Khayati, Thomas Brdaric said, “He has been outstanding. He made the difference (tonight). He is a professional. He didn’t come here for money, but to deliver. I see hunger in him. Despite his age, his hunger has impressed me. When you are a professional like him, then you have rewards with that. The way he guides and leads the team, I see leadership in him. This is the guy we need for our development and he is a real idol for all of us.”

Chennaiyin FC have got off to a mixed start as they have won four matches out of the nine they have played.

Sharing his thoughts on the team’s win, “I’m happy with the performance. We were offensive and we scored seven beautiful goals. We have to take a rest and for the next 48 hours we can enjoy this win, but there the next match against Kerala Blasters FC is awaiting us. I’m delighted with the seven goals.”

Brdaric added that the team was able to reap the rewards for their preparations in the previous week.

He said, “Every time if you score, it looks simple but nothing is in the Hero ISL. To score seven goals is a hard job. We had a good week with a very good concentrated performance. We achieved a good result because of our investment in the last week. We are concentrated all the time and the games that we played before were very close. If we make the difference in these games, then we win. We will try to learn from the upcoming matches and I hope that we lift ourselves to the Hero ISL table. We have a target and that is to finish in the top six. We are not there and that’s why we have to be serious and keep going.”

Chennaiyin FC will next take on Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai on 19th December.