Navi Mumbai, Feb 28 (IANS): While stressing on the fact that success at the youth level takes time and won't produce results overnight, top Premier League academy coaches said the next generation of Indian footballers, on show at the PL-ISL Next Generation Mumbai Cup, are well drilled, coached and have shown natural enthusiasm for the game.
However, youth coaches of Manchester United, Chelsea and Southampton strongly advised the under-15 Indian youth sides of Bengaluru FC, FC Goa and Reliance Foundation Young Champs academy to not measure their success at this level by results only in a success-driven country, citing the examples of Marcus Rashford, Tammy Abraham and Gareth Bale among many to have risen from their ranks.
"We have come up against a number of different challenges. The technical ability and the way the Indian players have performed and caused us problems, they are well coached, well drilled and they work hard. They have a real natural enthusiasm for the game," Chelsea academy coach Ian Howell said during a media interaction on the final day of the second edition of the Youth Games which started at the Reliance Corporate Park from February 24.
"Our players have had a foothold in some of the games because of the physicality and intensity that they work with," said Howell who has been with Chelsea since 2007.
"The boys handled the ball really well, they are technically competent. It is probably for them to become little bit more effective in the final third. It will be a development process for you guys," observed Southampton academy coach Danny Maye.
"The important thing is to be patient with the players. Youth development is a long-term plan. Winning is important of course for the players but from the coach's point of view the more important thing is the development of the players. You have to understand that someday you win someday you lose but the important message from my side is patience," he added.
The first batch of eight U-17 boys from the Reliance Foundation Young Champs academy will graduate this season after spending five years here since its inception.
While they are likely to be roped in by Indian Super League (ISL) clubs in time to come, Manchester United academy coach Karl Brown said this is the age group when coaches try and push the players towards result-driven mindset.
"At Manchester United, it is always about developing the person. Not all about talent. So we develop from younger ages and these opportunities are great to help children grow.
"This is an experience they will never forget. You can see them developing off the pitch. It's not all about winning at this stage, more about development. Having the mentality is important but it's not everything. We try and push them in the direction of winning but that comes in a little bit later, when they're U-18 or U-16, 17.
"But at the younger ages it's all about development. The trip in itself has been a fantastic learning curve from staff and players."
He said at the youth level, it is more about helping the players off the pitch as they go through adolescence.
"You can't rush things. It takes time and will not happen overnight. You need to believe and invest in the boys. The big part of our job is to be patient. These boys at this age go through so many things off the field. So 80 % job of the coach is off the pitch. On the grass is the enjoyable bit."
Southampton coach Maye added two things that have worked for them is patience with youngsters and having a clear pathway for them. Besides Bale, Southampton have produced players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke Shaw and Theo Walcott among others.
"Two of the lessons that have worked for us is to be patient. The journey is not linear. It is often rocky. Secondly, having a pathway and showing these boys have got a pathway to be successful. These Indian players have an incredible work ethic that's evident in every game we have played. We have been really impressed with the staff here," the coach said.