Valskis not thinking too much about ‘Golden Boot’ race in ISL

After a couple of left-footed Golazos against Hyderabad FC and NorthEast United FC, Lithuanian Valskis, boasting of eight strikes under his belt, is breathing down Aridane Santana’s (Odisha FC) neck, who currently leads the pecking order for ‘Most Goals’ in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2019-20 with nine hits.

Despite being within touching distance of the Spaniard marksman, the 32-year-old isn’t getting carried away by the ‘Golden Boot’ race that is heating up. “I don’t think too much about it (individual statistics). I will give it a go but at the same time, I am not selfish. It is not like only I must score for my side,” Valskis told DT Next.

While Aridane is on top of the pile on his own, the CFC striker has elite company in Ferran Corominas (FC Goa), Roy Krishna (ATK) and Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC), with the trio also rippling the net eight times so far. “Each game, my focus is only on the three points. I think it will be a lot easier (to be at the summit of the chart) if your team makes it to the play-offs,” added Valskis, referred to as ‘Chennaiyin’s Goal-scorer Extraordinaire’.

Ever since he got his name on the ISL board, the Klaipeda-born player mimicking his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration has been a common theme. Following many of his goals, Valskis has performed a passionate mid-air pirouette and then landed on the green blade of grass, replicating the Portugal talisman.

Giving an insight into why he comes up with this sequence time after time, he said, “I like Ronaldo and have great respect for him. That is one of the reasons why I do it. Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Ronaldo have a lot of fan-following in India. When I execute it, it is a bit of fun for the supporters as well.”

Had things gone as per plan, Valskis would have had the opportunity to share the stage with showstopper Ronaldo in a EURO 2020 qualifying duel in November last year. However, it just wasn’t meant to be as Lithuania head coach Valdas Urbonas wanted him to settle well in greener pastures – India – before making a return to his set-up.

“Urbonas told me why he didn’t invite me for the recent matches. Our interaction happened after the first four games in ISL, which obviously didn’t go our way. The national team gaffer felt it was better for me to stay and play for my club (CFC),” revealed Valskis.