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India National Coach Stephen Constantine maintained “it’s important to continue the momentum”, as India face Myanmar in their last home match of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao tomorrow, November 14.
“This match is the first step to Asian Cup’s preparation which is precisely 14 months away,” he said at the official pre-match press conference at the Pandit JLN Stadium.
“The match allows us the opportunity to test the depth of our squad. Obviously, we are looking forward to,” he maintained.
Constantine showed huge respect for the visitors and said that the match can be “anyone’s game”.
“Myanmar are a very disciplined side. The coach is there for 8 long years and he follows a similar system. We had a torrid time in Myanmar.”
Skipper Chhetri, who made the difference in the added time in the first leg having ended a 64-year prolonged wait to register a win in Myanmar, reiterated the fact as well.
“I admit that they had a lot of ball possession. They kept us under tremendous pressure throughout. But at the end of the day, we took all three points. I will any day take three points at the end, no matter who has more ball possession,” the ‘talismanic’ Captain stated.
Referring to the Myanmar coach’s comments that he’s ready to provide Chhetri with a Myanmar passport, Chhetri quipped, “Let’s not take away the credit from our defenders. As I remember we defended for most of the time and they carried out the job with utmost precision. If he hands me a Myanmar passport, it is to be given to the defenders, Jeje, Udanta too.”
Coach Stephen Constantine also lavished huge praise for the players’ “phenomenal work rate” which churned out a win in Myanmar.
“The work rate was phenomenal. We have continued our hard work for last 2 years and these are the results. Everyone knows that we are a hard-working unit and we will continue to do so.”
Referring Sunil Chhetri’s pivotal goal in the added time, coach recollected, “It was a 5-man move and Sunil was clinical to finish off the job. In Europe, the goals against Myanmar and the Kyrgyz Republic could have been talking points. On and off the pitch, we are a great team.”
The product of the AIFF Youth Development program Germanpreet Singh thanked the senior players for being a “great support to improve him as a player”.
“We always push ourselves to deliver on the pitch. The senior players have been a great support to every one of us to improve as a player,” the sturdy Germanpreet commented.
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 8pm.
