Carvalho insists that experienced players like Tirkey, Viren Rasquinha, GaganAjit Singh, Adrian D'Souza and drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, named among the 32probables for the Bangalore camp starting on May 23, will have to follow the newstyle of play that fetched the team a third-place finish in the Sultan AzlanShah tournament.
"Let me make one thing very clear. The invitation to these players tojoin the camp (in Bangalore) does not mean an automatic selection into theteam," the former India half-back said in an exclusive interview in Mumbai.
"If these boys can follow the same mantra which I have been followingnow, that is hard and aggressive running, and if they can match up to the pace(of the rest of the campers), then we have a fight for slots in the team. But Iwon't go by past reputation and laurels," Carvalho said.
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The Champions Challenge tournament, for which the Indian team will beselected on June 2, is to be held in Boom, Belgium from June 23 to July 1. Otherteams that would feature in the event are Argentina, England, New Zealand, Japanand the hosts.
"They have to come and play according to the style that is being adoptednow. There is a lot of change in our style of playing. It is now a mixture ofthe traditional Indian style and the European style," Carvalho said.
"We have been using the hard hits, the overhead balls -- used nowadaysin international hockey -- and we are doing it now to telling effect. This madea lot of change (to the team's fortunes)," said the Mumbai-based 1984Olympian.
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Carvalho said in order to jell well with the juniors, the experienced playerswould have to shed the mindset that they are seniors and stars.
"One other thing, the concept of seniors and juniors has to be removedfrom their head if they have to jell as a team.
"I will not tolerate the so-called star attitude. They have to play as ateam, work hard. They have to prove they have it in them and that they arebetter than the youngsters in the camp," he said.
"They might have done wonders in the past but the present counts and Iwill insist on this," Carvalho emphasised.
The coach said the same formula would apply to Sandeep Singh who was out ofaction following a freak bullet injury.
"He (too) has to perform and prove himself. I want fast movers and don'twant people to stand and watch the proceedings either from behind or in thefront. They have to be involved in the game and do hard running.
"Let's not go by past reputation and performance. He has to fight forhis place along with Raghunath. Let them fight (for a place). More themerrier," Carvalho said.
PTI
