Xtra Time Web Desk: Hosts India will start as favourites as they take on Cambodia in the Asian Cup Qualifiers at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Indian team Head Coach Igor Stimac said, ““For me as a coach, it is not important who scores. But it’s important that we score. We need to accept that our recent oppositions – Bahrain, Belarus, and Jordan – were technically better than us. But we had our chances, and failed to capitalise on them,” Igor quipped. “We have young players who are feeling the pressure of being in the National team. We need to push these young players earlier in their career, and need to be patient.”
Referring to a query about the Blue Tigers conceding late goals, the coach informed: “I’m not worried as we are now ready to battle it out for 90 minutes. There is more strength in our legs and more oxygen in our brains. We have been training to our strengths, and it has helped us a lot.”
Sandesh Jhingan hinted that maintaining a clean sheet is paramount for the boys. “Clean sheet is a simple concept for any team. Every team that goes into a match carries that mentality with them. There’s no concept in modern football that only defenders will defend. The team needs to be in sync. The striker is the first defender, while the goalkeeper is the first attacker.
For the record, the coach informed that all players, except Rahul Bheke are available for the match against Cambodia. “Rahul has been out with a minor injury for the last 11 days, and he may miss the first match against Cambodia.”
“Once we started together as a team, we were clear what we wanted to do in the future. The first step is for India to participate in the final of the Asian Cup. You always need to go through these stages. We are the favourites in this group and are in a good position. We need to get into the finals, and do better than the last time we were in the tournament,” Stimac, who coached Croatia to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, expressed.
At the same time, however, the coach sounded a cautious note. “I respect every opponent. There is no reason to underestimate Cambodia. They have come here with the same desire. We need to be hungry for this game, and we are. But today’s football doesn’t bring in any easy games.”
Courtesy: AIFF Media