Interview | You can’t improve the Indian national team straight away: Paul Lambert Premium

Borussia Dortmund legend Paul Lambert visits India for training camp, shares insights on grassroots football and Indian Super League.

Borussia Dortmund legend Paul Lambert, who had marked and successfully contained Zinedine Zidane in the 1996-97 Champions League final to help the Black and Yellow defeat Juventus 3-1, was on his first visit to India for a short training camp with the Murugappa Youth Football Academy (MYFA) at the end of January.

Lambert, who has joined the BVB Group as the Technical Director of Southeast Asia, came to India to train budding footballers at MYFA, which has a tie-up with Dortmund.

A small group of kids from the Australian club Wynnum Wolves, which has a partnership with the German club, were also in town to participate in the camp at the Vellayan Chettiyar School ground in Chennai.

In a chat with The Hindu, Lambert gave a lowdown on the training camp, spoke about the way forward for the Indian national football team, revealed being approached to join the Indian Super League, and more. Excerpts:

On his new role as the BVB Technical Director of Southeast Asia and first visit to India

Being part of the BVB group and Wynnum Wolves FC has given me the opportunity to come here for the first time to India. It’s been a good experience. You never know what to expect when you come into a country that you’ve never been to, and from that aspect, it’s been very satisfying.

I’ve just joined the club as the Technical Director of Southeast Asia, which is a really good role. I am happy to help the club the best I can internationally, to help grassroots football and academy kids to try and be good footballers.