Talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri “may be playing the last season” of his outstanding career feels Indian football team head trainer Igor Stimac. He is hoping that his star player would be saving his stylish for the last in the coming months.
India’s coming big sporting event is the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. It is starting from January 12 to February 10 coming time. The 38- time-old Indian football player Chhetri is set to play in his third international event. The most by an Indian, after playing a more vital part in the qualification event than last time.
“At his age, this will presumably be his farewell from football. Sunil may be playing his last season, and surely his last Asian Cup.” Stimac said.
“I am relatively sure that the forthcoming months will be stylish for Sunil Chhetri.” He was quoted as saying this on the sanctioned All India Football Federation(AIFF) website.
The team is presently having a five-day camp then ahead of the Tri-Nation Football Tournament in Imphal from March 22.
Chhetri is the third among active players with 84 strikes behind Cristiano Ronaldo (118) and Lionel Messi (98). Both were part of the Indian side that contributed in the 2011 and 2019 Asian Cup. The 38-time-old Chhetri made his transactional debut in 2005. He played a crucial part in Bengaluru FC’s making it to Indian Super League final to be played on Saturday.
“Sunil Chhetri was not in the playing team this season. He was on the bench, staying, preparing himself. He is working to take his weight down many kilos, which is veritably delicate to handle at this age.” said Stimac.
The target of reaching the Asian Cup quarterfinals, if he wants to continue at the helm beyond that stint- name.
“But when it was most demanded, he was there for his club, helping them, and taking them to the tests. He scored the most decisive pretensions.”
Within 10 months to go for the Asian Cup, the 106-ranked Blue Barracuda will play their first transactional match since September. They take on advanced-ranked Kyrgyz Republic (94) and Myanmar (159) in the transactional event in Imphal.
India drew 1- 1 against Singapore and limited a 0- 3 loss to Vietnam in their last transnational matches. Along with Chhetri, the Indian team has also geriatric stars in central- protector Sandesh Jhingan and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
Stimac is well apprehensive of the likely change in the core group of players soon.
“We need to know that some of them are senior by age now. It’s delicate to say, but farewells need to come eventually.” The 1998 World Cup citation quarter-finalist Croatian said.
“Along with him(Chhetri), Sandesh(Jhingan) and Gurpreet (Singh Sandhu) are our core team strengths. I’ve no way hidden that.
“They’re free guys, with great characters, strong mindsets, and good intelligence. This is an introductory platform for us to make the around. But, we need to consider their age in mind. Gurpreet and Sandesh may be there 4, or 5 times.” he added.
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