Hyderabad FC became the champions of the Indian Super League last season after defeating Kerala Blasters in the finals on penalties. It was coming for Spanish head coach Manolo Marquez who plays a great brand of football and always takes special care of his players. Similarly Souvik Chakrabarti who played a major role in the success for the Nizams in that midfield alongwith Joao Victor credits all his performances to Marquez.
Souvik has always chosen a very unconventional path as he started out as a midfielder and was later shifted to fullback position for his ability to move up and down the flanks with great energy. However it was Marquez Marquez who brought him back to the midfield and there the player from West Bengal did wonders. He was a vital cog in Marquez’s system as he and Victor gave them the stability that they needed in the base of the midfield so that they could push ahead with the forwards. It is very important for Souvik to come good and he did not disappoint and helped Hyderabad FC in securing the ISL title.
“Coach Manolo has unearthed plenty of young talent, so most people think he’s only good with youngsters. But trust me, he manages senior players like me equally well,” the 31-year-old said in an interaction with Sportskeeda.
The former Mohun Bagan player shared how the Spanish tactician is a great human being apart from being a great coach. He shared how he loves to have fun with the players off the field but on field he is always serious and tactically astute. “He’s a great human being and always stands by his players. On the field, he’s very serious but off it, he loves to have fun with us. I haven’t seen many coaches in the ISL who are tactically as strong.I had been deployed as a full-back since 2015, but coach Manolo moved me back into midfield. He deserves full credit for my success,” Souvik Chakrabarti added.
The versatile player from Kolkata has won several laurels in his illustrious career but he ranks his Indian Super League win with Hyderabad right at the top of the pecking order. He feels winning with Kolkata clubs can bring the limelight but winning outside makes sure that the limelight stays on you.
“The ISL win was very special as I won it outside Bengal. Winning trophies with Kolkata clubs can put you under the spotlight, but winning outside your comfort zone is more challenging,” he said.
The experienced midfielder only had gratitude for Hyderabad FC as he shared how the club showed faith in him even during dire straits and also backed him when he had to return to Kolkata during the season due to some personal emergency back in 2020. Therefore he holds a very high regard for the Nizams.
“They are very supportive. When I joined Hyderabad FC in January 2020, the club were in a very bad situation. They showed faith in me and offered me a long-term contract. It was a big thing for me at the time,” Chakrabarti said.
“Midway through the 2020-21 season, I had to return to Kolkata as my father had fallen seriously ill. I missed nearly 10 matches, yet the club supported me a lot during that period,” he concluded.
While his future is unsure till now as there are plenty of rumours suggesting that Souvik is returning to Kolkata and will join East Bengal for the upcoming season. But none of that is confirmed yet but it will surely be a big loss for Hyderabad and Marquez ahead of the upcoming season as Souvik Chakrabarti held the team together in midfield and acted as the glue that held the shape.
