David Platt reveals all about life as FC Pune City manager: 'Snakes in the bushes and crazy driving... I know I'm in India!'

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David Platt is currently managing FC Pune City in the Indian Super League
He cannot hide his enthusiasm and interest, telling stories of his time there
Platt is not in India for the money, but for the experience of a new culture
His side have won their opening two games and can go top on Wednesday
Nicky Shorey and Roger Johnson are two British players at FC Pune City
Platt says India's national team could be at a World Cup within 20 years

Published: 16:35 EST, 13 October 2015 | Updated: 17:41 EST, 13 October 2015

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David Platt's daily drive into training is rarely dull with cars, vans, bicycles, scooters, three-wheel tuk-tuk taxis and livestock all competing for road space, accompanied by a million honking horns.

'Like watching a film unfold in front of your eyes and you can't predict the ending,' is how the new manager of Indian Super League club FC Pune City describes his surroundings. 'To us, it looks like chaos but to them, it is everyday life. That is why I find it so endearing. Nobody bats an eyelid.'

Until this month, Platt had been out of football for two years after his dismissal at Manchester City, where he was assistant manager to Roberto Mancini.

David Platt is currently manager at FC Pune City in the Indian Super League, where his side are flying high

Former England captain Platt says he is not in India for the money, but to experience a new culture

He resisted attempts by Mancini to join him at Galatasaray and Inter Milan, but the former England captain did say yes to a once-in-a-lifetime challenge of helping revolutionise football in India.

As a player, Platt was one of the most successful British exports of his day, learning fluent Italian and excelling in Serie A for Bari, Sampdoria and Juventus in the 1990s.

This has been a greater step into the unknown and he cannot hide his enthusiasm and interest in what he has already experienced.

'I've seen heavy garden furniture being delivered by bike. I've seen four people squeezed on to the same scooter,' he says. 'Right in the middle of town, there were a dozen buffalo walking down the street on their own. We had to swerve around them, nobody else in the car is blinking and I am thinking it is one of the most bizarre things I'd ever seen.'

As a player, Platt was not scared to try new challenges abroad, joining Serie A side Bari in 1991 (pictured)

Platt then moved on to two further clubs in Italy, plying his trade for Juventus (left) and then Sampdoria

It can be occasionally frightening too. 'My driver took a short cut on a dirt track by the side of a road with four lanes of traffic coming towards us,' said Platt. 'I ended up laughing out loud. Anyone who did that in England would get on the 10 o'clock news. It works, but you think to yourself: "How?"'

It should be made clear that Platt, who won 62 England caps and also managed the country's Under 21s, is not in India to do the 'poverty and elephants', as Phil Tufnell once put it. The ISL is a serious attempt to make football as popular in India as everywhere else in the world.

Its founder is Nita Ambani — wife of business magnate Mukesh Ambani, whose wealth is estimated at £12billion — and teams from major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta are represented in the eight-team league which runs from October to December.

Platt speaks about the hectic driving style in India, telling stories about tuk-tuk drivers finding shortcuts

Platt has been out of work since leaving his post as Manchester City assistant to Roberto Mancini

Live games in last year's inaugural season drew an average TV audience of 29million — more than the record-breaking figures in the UK that saw Platt play for England against Germany in the semi-finals of Italia 90 and Euro 96.

Platt's first match, a 3-1 win against Mumbai City, featured familiar names to Premier League fans such as Adrian Mutu, Didier Zokora, Tuncay Sanli, Nicolas Anelka and Freddie Picquionne. Pune also won their second game, 1-0 against NorthEast United, and will go top of the table if they win Wednesday's clash with Delhi.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is the majority shareholder in another club, Kerala Blasters, who have former Leicester City and England Under 21 manager Peter Taylor in charge.

Mancini and Platt are good friends and the former City boss attempted to lure him to Turkey and Italy

Platt says India could reach a World Cup within 20 years if they improve tactically and play without fear

'The ISL have the right people behind it. There is huge wealth to sustain it,' said Platt. 'The target is to inspire the next generation so that India has a good national team as well.

'There is a great interest in watching football but not enough people play. Youngsters can't see a pathway to becoming the next Sergio Aguero. One of the criteria to have an ISL franchise is that you need to introduce a youth system.

'If it's done correctly, they will be in a World Cup within 20 years. Technically, the standard is already as good as League One and Two, but they need to improve tactically and to play without fear.'

Pune is a city of six million people and developing rapidly with a high concentration of technology and financial service companies.

FC Pune City are currently second in the ISL and can go top if they beat Delhi Dynamos on Wednesday

Yendrick Ruiz (left) runs with the ball during Pune's previous match; they beat NorthEast United 1-0 at home

Having dealt with some high-maintenance stars in England, Platt is still getting used to the reverence being shown him in the dressing room. 'The local players have it in mind to call you "Sir". I have told them "Coach" is absolutely fine,' he smiles, aware it is not a conversation he needed to have with Mario Balotelli at City.

'They are just so eager to please. It's got to the point where I have had to tell them to slow down in training. I'd ask for the players to do a run to get a sweat on, they would insist on sprinting all the way to the line.'

A year ago, the ISL threw million-pound pots of money at star veterans such as Robert Pires and Alessandro del Piero to give the league some start-up publicity.

This time, they have sought to increase the competitive nature of the league. Platt has returned to England to bring in players such as Nicky Shorey (ex-Reading), Roger Johnson (ex-Birmingham, West Ham, Wolves), Steve Simonsen (ex-Everton, Stoke) and James Bailey (ex-Barnsley). They can earn around £2,500 a week for three months and put themselves in the shop window for a move to England in January.

Former Chelsea forward Adrian Mutu (right) is another Pune player Premier League fans will recognise

Platt says all the homegrown players are eager to please, and he has to tell them to slow down in training

Do it right and India will be in a World Cup within 20 years

Platt's previous time abroad has held him in good stead. 'You've got to understand their culture, you can't expect the country to adapt to you,' he says. 'Some things in India don't work as you'd like but there is no point in shouting for something when they'll give it to you if you ask nicely.

'We needed new nets and a lick of paint on the goalposts the first day I arrived.

'At pre-season in Turkey, there was no leisure kit available when I wanted the players to dress the same way for lunch to look like a team. So I went to a shop myself and bought 40 pairs of matching shorts and T-shirts.

'You have to understand it's different. I've sent a scout around India to watch our forthcoming opponents play but clubs in India don't study like that, they see it as a form of cheating!'

Platt played 62 times for England during his playing career; he is pictured after scoring vs Belgium in 1990

FC Pune United manager Platt (left) speaks to Sportsmail's Joe Bernstein at his hotel base in India

The day after beating Mumbai, Platt turned up to training for the players not involved to find out one had left for Mumbai without warning. So Platt had to brave 90-degree heat to make up the numbers in a five-a-side. He has also explained to his English players they must adapt to a new environment.

'Roger Johnson is a classic case. He's a vocal centre half who uses strong words to drive people on. I had to say to him it's a fine line. If he's over the top, he might not get the response he wanted,' said Platt.

'You want to encourage the homegrown players. You don't want them to be fearful and choose to pass to one of the bigger-name players. In our first match, I felt a few of them went into their shells.'

Roger Johnson has had to adapt to his environment after joining a club outside of England for the first time

Platt is based at a hotel in Pune, but sometimes ventures out for a round of golf with his backroom staff

Platt is based at the city's comfortable Courtyard Marriott Hotel but has ventured out for a round of golf with backroom staff Niall Clark and Massimo Battara, who both worked with him at City.

'We were told there could be snakes in the bushes off the fairway,' said Platt. 'One of my partners drove in there. When the caddie offered to go and look for his ball, he said, "Leave it, even if you find it, I'm not hitting it from there".'

Another outing to dinner turned into a bit of an adventure. 'We took a tuk-tuk to the restaurant, 12 miles away. There was that much traffic, the driver went off the road, through the trees and back on to the road later to avoid it,' said Platt.

Despite the stories, it is a serious business. Platt is clear he is not in India for the money, or to use it as a springboard back into management in England. 'I am in it for the experience,' he maintains. 'And to win, of course.'