Couldn’t sleep for two-three days after Asian Cup exit, reveals Pronay Halder

After winning against Thailand and winning against UAE, the third-best team system in the tournament meant that India were more than secured to book a place in the knockout stages. It would have been their best finish in the tournament in 55 years and their only task was to not lose to Bahrain. 

India did it almost everything really well until the first minute of injury time deep into the match when Halder tripped Hamad Mahmood Alshamsan in the box. Star striker Jamal Rashed Abdulrahman stepped up and converted from the spot, thereby eliminating India out of the tournament. And Halder has stated that he didn’t stop feeling guilty for a long time after that nightmare experience. 

“I couldn’t sleep for the next two-three days. I felt guilty that I cost the team a place in the knock-outs,” said Halder, reported Sportstar.

“Honestly, even now sometimes it flashes in my mind. But at the end of the day, it’s all part of the game. No one blamed me. Sunil (Chhetri) bhai, Sandesh (Jhingan) and the coach (Stephen Constantine) told me that it wasn't my fault. I needed to take it in my stride and move on as a professional,” the 26-year-old added.

However, thankfully, his performance in the Asian Cup didn’t extend to his ISL campaign where he has been a regular figure for Coppell’s side. The manager has described his midfielder ‘stoical’.

“He is very stoical. Not much affected him. I am sure he must have been disappointed but he didn't show it to everybody. He just got on with his job and that was to come back and play for ATK. He is an excellent professional. He still has a big future ahead of him,” Coppell said.