“I can assure you that it won't be an easy job for other teams to face India" Sunil Chhetri
Even as it’s prediction
time for pundits all over the world on the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019,
talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri expressed that “It won’t be easy for other
teams to face India.”
"All of us are super excited and thrilled
right now. Apart from me and Gurpreet, it's a first-time experience for all
else. Everyone is ready to grab this opportunity,” he maintained.
“I can assure you that it won't be an easy job
for other teams to face us. We are a team who hate to lose, and we have proven
it in recent times. We are working as per the plan,’’ he stated.
Chhetri, the highest Indian scorer in
International Football with 65 goals at the moment, however, refrained from
commenting as to which team will post the toughest challenge for India in the
group stage.
“At the moment, our sole focus is on our
opening fixture – the game against Thailand. At the moment, we are not looking
anything beyond that. Yeah, there are matches against UAE and Bahrain lined up
but we will think about them only when they come. At the moment we know that
Thailand will be a very tough opponent and we are concentrating only on them.”
Chhetri has played 104 international matches so
far, only three shy of his ‘mentor’ Bhaichung Bhutia who had represented the
nation for a record 107 times. But he stressed that he never plays for records.
“It feels good when I get a record under my
name. But I don't keep track of records. After 10 seconds, I just forget it and
move on,” he smiled. “I never take any pressure of chasing any record. I never
ever dreamt that I would play more than 100 games for India or score 60-odd
goals,” Chhetri explained.
The 34-year-old striker didn't think much
before calling himself as a 'big fan' of the Sikkimese Sniper, expressing he
has learnt many a thing from his him.
"I have always been a big fan of Bhaichung-bhai.
Tell me who isn’t? I have learnt so many things from him,” he uttered. “He has
always been a huge support.”