World Cup Qualifiers | Proud of āmonumental performanceā, Sunil Chhetri on Qatar result
While admitting that it was torture to miss the Qatar game in the World Cup Qualifiers, Sunil Chhetri has asserted that he was proud of the teamās monumental performance. The skipper also added that even though India have just one point in two games, the confidence in the camp is incredible.
For long, Sunil Chhetri has been the centrepiece of the Indian football team and is often seen as the lone face of the sport in India. So when he was ruled out of the game against Asian Champions Qatar, fans would not have been wrong in believing that India were in for a rough night in the World Cup Qualifiers. However, the team stuck together and were able to grind out a hard-fought 0-0 away from home to take a point of the reigning Asian Champions and Chhetri could not be prouder of his side.
āI am so proud. Just trying to remember whether have I felt like this in all these years of having played for the national team. It was such a monumental performance,ā Chhetri said, reported TOI.
āAs amazing as it was to see the team play the way it did, it was a torture to be outside. Every minute goes by like an hour. I would prefer to be on the pitch a million times. That said, I am a proud captain after watching the boys fight like that. The match will stand right up there as one of the best matches I have been part of for India.ā
While the result is a massive one as far the game was concerned but India still have just one point on the table having played two games. The draw in Qatar came days after India had blown a lead against Oman at home which made the result even sweeter for their skipper.Ā
āOn the table, it may show just one point from two games. But the confidence in our camp now is incredible. I was nothing but a spectator for five days after the Guwahati game (against Oman), and I saw how hard everyone worked (for the game versus Qatar),ā Chhetri said.
āIt's not easy coming in from a defeat and playing the Asian champions, that too in their backyard. But everyone was galvanized and stayed together to put in such kind of performance. Right now, I only hope we can do justice to what we did against Qatar in the coming matches.ā
When asked about how he celebrated the result against Qatar, Chhetri, being Chhetri, replied, āI was on cloud nine. I screamed so much that I lost my voice. I didn't know how to celebrate. That's when I thought, ' Aaj toh Meetha banta hai (I can enjoy a sweet today)'. I gave in to the temptation. All the boys were taking pictures of me eating dessert because they know how particular I am about my diet. I ate something sweet maybe after a gap of three years and I have no regrets."