New Delhi: Indian football coach coach Stephen Constantine said Thursday that he would not see India as a big team until his side become a regular at the Asian Cup and final stages of the World Cup Qualifiers.
Despite India breaking into the top 100, Constantine has maintained that every opposition is ‘dangerous and difficult’. “Some people do feel that I always make the other team look bigger than us. That’s because at the moment we are trying to establish ourselves in Asian football. Once we are perpetually qualifying to the AFC Asian Cup and to the final qualifying stages of the World Cup from Asia, we can start to think and feel we are a big team. We are not there yet but are on the right track,” Constantine told reporters.
In his second stint with India, the Briton felt that the team have been able to raise the bar in the last two years.
“We have certainly improved in the last two years and that’s what the intent was. However, in the larger scheme of things we have not achieved anything. After our international friendly against Nepal, we play against the Kyrgyz Republic and they are a very dangerous and difficult opponent,” asserted Constantine.
He again emphasised that the focus is on qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup. “I think the nucleus of this team is there for the next 4-5 years and right now we are focusing on the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 which is on the top of our priority list,” informed Constantine.
Asked what he expected from the Kyrgyz Republic team, Constantine said, “They have some very good players and are very well organised. So it will be a tough game.”
PTI