Robbie Fowler hit by furious backlash in India after claiming local players look like they’ve never been coached before

ROBBIE FOWLER is at the centre of a storm in India – after claiming local players look like they’ve never been coached.

The Liverpool legend took charge of Indian Super League giants East Bengal in October.

Robbie Fowler has come under fire for his comments on Indian footballersCredit: Getty Images – Getty

However the Kolkata outfit is bottom of the table after losing their opening two games of the season.

Ex-England striker Fowler hit out after Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Mumbai City.

The 45-year-old said: “We will coach the players, because in all honesty some Indian players look like they haven’t been coached before.

“We will try to make our Indian players better, and that takes good coaching.

“I don’t think they had that in the years gone by.”

However East Bengal coaching legend Subhas Bhowmick rapped: “The comment shows Robbie Fowler has some way to go before he can be called a good coach.

“You can say what you want to your players, but behind the closed doors of the changing room.

“In public you defend them – or say as a coach you couldn’t communicate what you wanted.

We will coach the players, because in all honesty some Indian players look like they haven’t been coached before

Robbie Fowler

“It shows great players don’t always make good coaches.”

Bhowmick led East Bengal to their last two league titles, in 2003 and 2004.

Ex-India international Shyam Thapa added: “Fowler has been a great player, so he couldn’t control his frustration at the big loss.

“The Indians [in Tuesday’s side] may have been bad – but what about the foreign players East Bengal have?”

Fowler won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups and scored 183 goals during two spells totalling 11 seasons at Anfield.

He went on to play for Leeds, Manchester City, Cardiff and Blackburn, and ended his playing career in Australia and Thailand.

Capped 26 times for the Three Lions, Toxteth-born Fowler managed Thai club Muangthong United and Aussies Brisbane Roar before moving to India.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk