The former coach of the Indian football team Igor Stimac urged fans to continue supporting the current head coach Manolo Marquez. He also said that Indian football stakeholders will have to deprive the blue tigers for the team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
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The former coach of the Indian football team Igor Stimac expressed his support for the current head coach of the Blue Tigers Manolo Marquez after the team disappointing the team against the Bangladesh in their opening match of the Asian Cup of AFC 2027.
Although India was 59 places ahead of the Bangladesh in FIFA rankings, there was not much to separate the two teams from the match at the Jawaharlal Nehru (Polo Ground) stadium in Shillong last week. India does not collect the three points, their coming games in group C become even more crucial.
Manolo was very critical of his team after the disappointing result, even questioning the quality of Indian football.
Stimac throws his weight behind Monolo
Reacting to the match, Stimac – who led India to the 2023 Asian Cup – practiced the daring words of Spanish and called for greater support for FC Goa coach, stressing that the qualification for the continental centerpiece will not be possible without it.
“I would mention again, do not be too pessimistic, because first of all, Manolo deserves the merit of knowing the situation and taking responsibility. It’s his chance to advance the team. I will remind you that I started in qualifying, but in a way survived the vision. Manolo will try to do the same, ”Stimac told Stimac Revsportz.
“I am quite convinced that it will be difficult, but it will be easier with your help, with your belief and surrounding it with support. You know, if there is no support for fans, those who are important in Indian football, then it will be very difficult for Manolo and the boys in the rest of the (2027 AFC Asia Cup).”
Stimac says that Chhetri’s recall was `Risque ” ‘
Stimac, however, did not agree with Manolo’s decision to recall the retired Sunil Chhetri. The 40 -year -old man reversed his international retirement at the request of the coach due to the lack of mortal attackers from India. While Chhetri scored in the friendly match against the Maldives on his return, he did not find the net against Bangladesh.
Stimac thinks it was a “risky” decision – a decision that Manolo was forced to make.
“It was a short-term solution because Manolo probably noticed that there was no killer in front of the goal, and at that time he needed Sunil, and probably asked him to come back for this match, to obtain the victory,” he told Revsportz. “Three points to relaunch the confidence of the players in the locker room and to calm the nation, I would say, but it is always risky to do so.”
Stimac on how the Indian team can do well
The former Croatian and first League defender, 57, also added that the stakeholders of Indian football must meet and prioritize the national team for his fortune to change.
“There are also many more solutions, but none will succeed until we stop putting local interests or interests of the State before the interests of Indian football. All stakeholders must sit together and prioritize what is the goal here, because in each country in the world, football exists at the lowest level for a reason, to have a successful national team, “said Stimac.
“This is the main reason for the existence of football, because the world’s largest competition is the World Cup. Do clubs play there or football nations? Is it a dream of the Indians to participate in the World Cup one day? So, we all have to work together to create a solid pool of players, talented Indian players, to make sure they have somewhere to play and develop their strengths – to represent the country at the end of the day and to qualify (for the World Cup).
