Bangalore: Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri is of the opinion that no Indian football club have a three-year history like them and that in itself does all the talking about the giant strides taken by the southern outfit.
In an interview to ‘the-aiff.com’ Tuesday, the India skipper who scored a brace in Bengaluru FC’s AFC Cup semifinal second leg win against Johor Darul Ta’zim said, “The results should do all the talking and not me.”
He added: “Bengaluru FC, in their three years of existence, have won two I-League titles, a Federation Cup, made the last 16 in their first year of Asian competition and now we’re in the final of the AFC Cup. I’m not sure if there’s a better three-year record in club football in the country.
Asked what would be his advice to the younger crop before the AFC Cup final Saturday against Iraqi club Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Chhetri said it is for them to motivate themselves. “The stage is big enough for everyone to find motivation from within. Our coach is the one giving out advice and he’s always asked us to be brave and I guess there is no better message than that,” asserted Chhetri.
In 2011, when India played the 2011 Asian Cup in Doha, the former Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, JCT and Dempo attacker was just another member of the national team.
Five years later, when Bengaluru FC play the AFC Cup final at the same venue Saturday, he is the most important cog in the wheel.
“There is a gap of five years and a lot of football has come between those years. We learnt a lot during the 2011 tourney, though the result was very poor (India lost all their pool matches),” stated Sunil.
“Doha 2016 is an entirely whole new chapter now and this time, it’s in club colours. We’re one good game away from something special. You cannot really compare the two tournaments. But I hope we leave Doha on a very happy note this time around,” added the mercurial striker.
Press Trust of India
