Chennai City coach Satyagara optimistic about I-League season

CHENNAI: Chennai City FC (

CCFC

) will be in action on the first day itself when the

I-League

kicks off in Kolkata on January 9 and their newly-appointed coach Satyasagara said his side would do their best in the competition.

CCFC underwent their preseason training at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in the city for two weeks before leaving for Kolkata on December 26. The squad is now under quarantine till January 2.

Satyasagara said his side might be a bit under-prepared going into the tournament. "The mood of the camp has been good so far. Preparation wasn't sufficient. For a pre-season, we needed at least six weeks. We will do our best," the 56-year-old coach said during a virtual media interaction on Wednesday.

CCFC won the I-League title in the 2018-19 season. Satyasagara feels that his boys can emulate the feat again this year. "We were practising in Chennai and suddenly the seven days quarantine has mentally affected the players. But we are keeping them united. There is team bonding as we are having yoga in the morning and fitness in the evening. But ours is not a brand new team. There will be no excuses. The expectation is high. I expect more from the senior players," he said.

CCFC will start their campaign against

Gokulam Kerala

at the Kalyani Stadium. Satyasagara said it will be a tough match to begin with. "The league is growing in such a way that every players' dream is to play in ISL. So players will give it their all. Every team is strong. We haven't had time to analyse Gokulam. They are our arch-rivals. We are looking forward to it," he said.