AFC Asian Cup qualifiers: We just want to put our best foot forward because we really want to win – Sunil Chhetri

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri said they just want to put their best foot forward as they really want to win their last Group D match against Hong Kong. The Blue Tigers had won their opening clash against Cambodia by 2-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata after Chhetri had scored a brace.

Subsequently, the home team defeated Afghanistan in a thrilling contest by 2-1 at the same venue on Saturday. Chhetri had once again scored from a free-kick however it was Sahal Abdul Samad who scored the winning goal.

India will look to end the group stages on a high by beating the toppers, Hong Kong. Hong Kong has also won its two matches against Cambodia and Afghanistan.

In fact, India has already qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 after Palestine defeated the Philippines by 4-0 on Tuesday.

Sunil Chhetri said in the pre-match press conference, “Yeah, I think we’re just going to try our best to continue from where we left. Because at the starting of the tournament, the head coach had made very sure that we are playing a tournament that we want to win. There’s a big prize at the end of it, which is the qualification for the Asia Cup. Even though we have done good in the last few games, we haven’t achieved anything. We have kept all those things aside and just focused on one game. We need to do well, so we can qualify.”

Chhetri reckons it is imperative for his team to forget about the past result, be it winning or losing. The talisman said it is pivotal to focus on the upcoming match.

He added, “I think adding to that the players’ mentality on the player side is to make sure we forget. We do this a lot when we have a bad game, we try our best to do it also in the game. Forget what has happened because no one to help us on Tuesday. Apart from all the technical parts that were already mentioned, we want to make sure, we start fresh and make sure we know exactly what happening. Whatever is happening the last two games it doesn’t help us in this game. It’s a very big, very important game. And we just want to put our best foot forward because we really want to win.”

India will look to bring their best against Hong Kong and Sunil Chhetri is once again going to hold the key for the Blue Tigers. The match will take place on Tuesday at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata.