AGENCIES, BENGALURU: The pressure of expectations was immense but ace Indian striker and captain Sunil Chhetri said Bengaluru FC did not target history while playing against Johor Darul Ta’zim in a crucial AFC Cup match, on Wednesday.
The club eventually created history by becoming the first Indian football club to make it into AFC Cup final after beating the defending champions 3-1.
“I am not in a position to talk about what this win means for Indian football. Before the match, there had been a lot of talk about no Indian club had made it into the finals. But there has been no such talk in our team. We treated this match as any other match,” he told reporters.
Replying to a query, Chhetri said the best part about BFC is that it is like a closely knit family and everyone, right from the ball boys to the head coach, wants to work hard and improve.
Talking about the coach, Chhetri said all the players have learnt a lot from Albert Roca even as he has a different style of coaching from Ashley Westwood, his predecessor.
Each players executed his plans on the pitch, as the players believe that a team can only win if they implement the coach’s ideas, Chhetri said.
Chhetri said the team could score three goals because of aggressive style of play.
“The reason we could score as many as three goals is that we played a sheer dominating game. As I had said earlier too, goals comes your way, you only need to keep trying,” he said.
Roca said it is a great day because India is not just a cricket country any more.
He also praised Chhetri by saying that the Indian striker is a good captain and played a big part in the win.
Sunil Chhetri turned AFC Cup semi-final around for Bengaluru FC, says I.M. Vijayan
Elated over Bengaluru FC’s history-making feat of becoming the first Indian club to enter the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup final, legend I.M. Vijayan on Wednesday credited Sunil Chhetri’s brace as the turning point of the semi-final second leg against Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim.
“I saw the game. Sunil was the turning point. He proved once again why he is India’s number one striker,” Vijayan told IANS over phone moments after the two-time I-League champions rode Chhetri’s double strike to down the defending champions 3-1 in the second leg, 4-2 on aggregate.
“This is not only Bengaluru FC’s victory, this is India’s triumph.”
“The entire Indian football fraternity is proud today. This should act as an impetus to further develop the sport in the country,” All India Football Federation (AIFF) Vice-President Subrata Dutta said.
I-League CEO Sunando Dhar, who was at the Kanteerava Stadium witnessing history being created, added, “The efforts put in by Bengaluru FC have all come down to this. I cannot describe the enormity of this win. This is the best day in Indian club football.”
Mohun Bagan also congratulated Bengaluru on their achievement. “It gives us immense pleasure and gratitude to extend our heartiest congratulations to the entire BFC family for creating history. Your performance has ignited hope in the heart of millions of ardent football lovers of the country. This feat will be etched in our memory for a lifetime,” a statement said.
