“I want Nepal to win at least two games so that we qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup,” said Roberts upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, on Saturday. [break]
The 51-year-old former England defender said he likes playing attacking football and will be prepare the Nepali team accordingly. Roberts, who played for English Premier League clubs Tottenham and Chelsea (when they were in championship) and Scottish Club Rangers in his heydays, believes that playing attacking game is the best way of scoring goals.
“That´s a challenge for me. We have a tough group. But I´m not here to lose,” said Roberts, who will have to guide Nepal against North Korea, Sri Lanka and the playoff winner between Afghanistan and Bhutan.
Roberts, who started his coaching career with Scottish Club Clyde in 2005, is wary of North Korea as the toughest opponent but insists that big names are of little importance.
“I don´t worry about other teams. I worry about my team. What matters is that we have to improve ourselves. We have to give confidence to our players,” he said.
Recalling his experience in South Asia while coaching Pakistan in 2010, the energetic coach said he found the Pakistanis talented but old-fashioned. He found out that the players in Pakistan were training in a traditional way -- toiling very hard. He has a new approach and that is to make training enjoyable.
(Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
“Players must have fun while training. It´s not all about running. That´s done in the pitch. You have to have a smile when you are playing,” he said.
He wants to change the traditional mindset that training is toiling hard. He is of the opinion that training is to have fun and confidence is the biggest weapon that helps achieve success.
“It´s all about winning. If you don´t win, you are wasting your time. I will at least improve them to some degrees. You will definitely see the difference,” said the coach who won the FA Cup titles in 1981 and 1982 as well as UEFA Cup in 1984 with Tottenham.
“All I used to do in England, I will pass on to them,” he said.
Related story
Emma Roberts Opens Up on Being Pregnant During Covid-19 Pandemi...
-1779250876.webp)
