Chhetri: 'I try not to think about goal drought in the I-League'
The Bengaluru hit man opined that their staff have forbidden them from thinking about the league title...
Sunil Chhetri, one of India’s most distinguished international players besides being a record setter for the Indian national team believes that his diminishing goal return this season is something he doesn’t think about, despite his team going about their title defense in the most professional manner possible.
Although the Indian striker did score two goals in the midweek to help side go through to the round of 16 in the AFC, his form in the I-League has been far from the best having scored just one in 15 matches of which he has started in 12.
As noted in many-an-expert’s analysis, Chhetri simply hasn’t got his foot to the pedal in terms of goal scoring prowess this term. His ability and class may be indubitable to all in the Indian football stratosphere, but with form wavering and Bengaluru needing to win relentlessly, Westwood had moved the Indian hitman to the bench. But the chirpy attacker seemed unaffected by his demotion.
Instead, on being asked what he made of his goal scoring drought presently, Chhetri believed he just wanted to help the team out as much as possible. “I'm trying not to think about it. It's bothering me. I took seven games in the league to score my first goal against Mohun Bagan. It's something that you're not used to and it bothers you, but I want to stay calm. Thankfully, being in this club really helps. There's no pressure over here from anyone. I'm trying my best to be as much help as I can for the team.
“Of course, when I think about myself, goals are the most important thing. But then, when it's not coming, I focus on the other stuff - doing the hard work that could be helpful for the team - as much as possible.”
While Chhetri flourished when deployed on the left as part of an attacking trident last term, this season that hasn’t been the case. Asked to expound on the same, Chhetri said, ““I don't want to think like that. Once you're not scoring, there are a lot of things that can come to your mind. It's the same position where I scored 15 goals last year. Me saying (making an excuse) that I'm playing on the left and not as a striker wouldn't be fair. Wherever, he (Ashley Westwood) wants me to play, I will play there. I want my team to win and I have realized that the most important thing is for your team to win. Rest everything comes secondary and thankfully we're doing so.”
.The Bengaluru FC skipper stated that they will not be talking about title defenses until the Bengaluru FCstaff deem it fit.
“We've been told by the coaching staff not to think about the title right now because it puts you under pressure. For us, it’s very important to win a game and then think about the next one. In that course, time will take care of the permutations and combinations,” he signed off.
Sony Norde - I can play even better for Mohun Bagan
The Haitian winger spoke to Goal in an exclusive chat before taking on Mumbai FC...
Sony Norde had taken the I-League by the scruff of the neck as he has been the cynosure of the Mohun Bagan side that is topping the table, having scored a whooping seven goals for the club.
Signed from the Jamal Dhanmondi club in Bangladesh in the summer, it took Norde no time to adjust himself and said the key to his success was that he enjoyed his football.
"I think I didn't have too much time. For me, anywhere I try to play my football and enjoy myself. I have this opportunity to play here and its very easy for a player when he enjoys and want to help the team perform," he explained to Goal.
The 25-year-old was candid in saying that both the players and the coach, Sanjoy Sen had the same objective, "The players know our quality and we know what we want. The coach is there to give the information on what we need to do on the field.The coach wants the same thing as the players - he wants to win the I-League. He is a very good man and he listens to all the players. Rest is done by the players and I am very happy with the coach, the players and the club. Everybody talks about Mohun Bagan as we are one of the best team now in India because we are top of the I-League with a chance to win."
"I think I didn't have too much time. For me, anywhere I try to play my football and enjoy myself. I have this opportunity to play here and its very easy for a player when he enjoys and want to help the team perform," he explained to Goal.
The 25-year-old was candid in saying that both the players and the coach, Sanjoy Sen had the same objective, "The players know our quality and we know what we want. The coach is there to give the information on what we need to do on the field.The coach wants the same thing as the players - he wants to win the I-League. He is a very good man and he listens to all the players. Rest is done by the players and I am very happy with the coach, the players and the club. Everybody talks about Mohun Bagan as we are one of the best team now in India because we are top of the I-League with a chance to win."
"This is happening in every game. When I play, there are a always one or two players who come to target me and make me angry. This is nothing new for me. I try to release the ball quickly and try to support my team and help my team to win," the Haitian international opined when asked about having to face a barrage of tackles in almost every match.
On being told that the Mohun Bagan fans had pledged to turn up in numbers in support of their club at the Cooperage Stadium in Mumbai, Norde was overjoyed.
"This is good for us, the team. When we play home matches we have so many supporters. For the away matches it is great. We are in good position but we need help from everybody. Supporters form a very important part of our team too. It will give us more motivation to play," he reckoned.
"This is good for us, the team. When we play home matches we have so many supporters. For the away matches it is great. We are in good position but we need help from everybody. Supporters form a very important part of our team too. It will give us more motivation to play," he reckoned.
Mohun Bagan had suffered only a solitary loss in their campaign so far, the 3-2 away loss to Royal Wahingdoh and Norde had no qualms in admitting that the players were squarely responsible for throwing away the lead while saying that they were looking to record two victories in their two upcoming away fixtures.
"That match we lost, it was our fault. We lost our concentration. We were leading 2-1 and then last ten minutes we conceded two goals. But we cannot win every match. So when we lose we have to keep up our motivation and bounce back like we did against Pune 2-0. Let us hope we can win against Mumbai and then come back here to win against Bharat."
"No, I can tell you it is 50-50. I am not fully fit. My level is not 100 per cent. I don't feel very well and when my injury finishes, I can play even better," he mentioned of playing through the season carrying a niggle.
The left winger made it clear that he wanted to currently concentrate solely on Mohun Bagan and the Indian Super League (ISL) could wait, "I have some offers but I want to concentrate on Mohun Bagan."
Rumours are rife that Norde has received a concrete offer from reigning ISL champions, Atletico de Kolkata.
"No, I can tell you it is 50-50. I am not fully fit. My level is not 100 per cent. I don't feel very well and when my injury finishes, I can play even better," he mentioned of playing through the season carrying a niggle.
The left winger made it clear that he wanted to currently concentrate solely on Mohun Bagan and the Indian Super League (ISL) could wait, "I have some offers but I want to concentrate on Mohun Bagan."
Rumours are rife that Norde has received a concrete offer from reigning ISL champions, Atletico de Kolkata.
Jeje Lalpekhlua: 'It felt good to score against an old club'
Jeje hasn't had the rosiest of times with Mohun Bagan but is slowly growing into the club.
The Mariner believes he is gaining confidence after an early season knee-injury affected him, believes they are united as a team on the pitch...
Jeje Lalpekhlua, may not have played as much as he liked this season in the Maroon and Green of Mohun Bagan owing to a knee injury, but is certainly enjoying his time with the club as they sit atop of the I-League table. Having started the last game owing to Balwant Singh’s suspension, the Mizoram striker opened the scoring for the away team against his former side, Pune FC.
Speaking exclusively to Goal, on a bristling and extremely tortuous summers day at the Pune FC training pitch, the Mariner believed winning against two of their remaining teams in Maharashtra will put them firmly towards I-League title glory.
“Actually now we are doing well. It’s important that we convert the Mumbai FC and Bharat FC games into wins. In these matches, we can go to win 80 per cent. I think, if we continue our good performances, I believe we can with these matches,” revealed the winger-cum-striker, on how they seek to open up a gap at the top of the table before their games against two of Maharashtra’s clubs.
Quizzed if he believed the four games away from home, was a disadvantage to their title run-in, “Yes, all our away matches are tough. Mumbai FC is a team fighting relegation and it’s going to be a very vital match. If we continue our style of play however, we can win.”
On his season so far, which has been a start-stop affair with the Kolkata club, Jeje explained, “I am still gaining confidence. Initially I had a problem with my knee injury at the start of the season. Now, it is getting better.”
Reminded of his past associations with Pune FC, whose academy he graduated from and for whom he scored 16 goals in a 54-match career spell, the Indian international was then asked if bulging the net against a former team of his emotionally strained him.
“Pune FC is my old club and I respect them a lot. But it always feels good to score against an Alma Mater. I was very happy (that I scored for Bagan), but it hurt me a little and I didn’t want to celebrate too much.”
Finally, asked on the quality of the foreigners at Bagan, the diminutive attacker concluded by praising his entire team. “We are in a good position thanks to brilliant team work. I think the foreigners are good, but we are set together inside the field and that’s why we are putting in fantastic displays.”
COMPETITIONS
Matchday 10
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