India will be the best in Asia in ten years, says Lucca

“Roping in foreign players and coaches in the Indian Super League have helped them (Indian players) raise their standards. In the next ten years, India will have the best set of players in Asia,” affirmed Lucca. Young talents from Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense have grabbed the eyeballs of the ISL scouts since the league’s inception in 2014. Players like Bruno Pelissari, Gustavo dos Santos et al. have earlier plied their trade with Chennaiyin FC and Delhi Dynamos FC respectively. Lucca is another member of the ‘Furacao’ family to have shifted allegiance in need of more game time. 

Speaking about why many players from Atletico have later gone on to pen their contracts with ISL clubs, he asserted, “It is a big club in Brazil, which plays first division football. I am not aware of how the players are contacted by various franchises but I can tell you that there is no direct connection between them and the ISL (laughs).” 

Lucca made his debut with FC Goa in 2015. Commenting on what lures him to come to the ISL every year, he said, “I spoke to Bruno Pelissari since we have together represented Atlético (Paranaense). That is how I got a fair idea about the league. The ISL is still young but I love the way it is organised. The league is only getting better with every passing year.”

Asked if the Stallions miss a marquee signing in the current edition, the 23-yearold said, “I don’t think we miss one. Some marquees are old while a few come here only for money. One of the exceptions is Momo Sissiko, who works really hard during the training sessions.” 

FCPC is presently placed second in the ISL league standings, with 29 points in its kitty from 16 encounters. When queried about which teams are most likely to fill up the remaining three spots for the play-offs (Bengaluru FC has already qualified), the Brazilian said, “When Chennaiyin FC won the league, they were on a five-match winning run before clinching the title in ISL 2015. It is difficult to pick the sides as the table is still open.” 

Having lost a closely contested final with FC Goa in the second edition of the ISL, Lucca would be itching to go one step better this time around, albeit with a different employer.