Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri believes that the increased competition for places in the current squad has made it more difficult for him to secure a starting spot. He feels that he will have to work harder to ensure that he plays every game under head coach Simon Grayson.
Bengaluru FC recently won the Durand Cup, and youngster Sivasakthi Narayanan scored five goals to challenge Roy Krishna and Chhetri for a starting spot. The Bengaluru FC captain welcomes the atmosphere and believes it will help the players perform better.
When asked about what he was looking forward to in this season of the Indian Super League in a press conference, Chhetri spoke about the competition in the team. He also revealed that some seniors are insecure about their spots on the team.
“I think the biggest strength we had was that we were a team. If we see the Durand Cup and the number of players that have played. I don’t think we can call ourselves a team with individual brilliance. We are going to work very hard and make it difficult for every team that we play against and that I feel is going to be the most important weapon we have,” he said.
“On a personal level, I’m just trying to do my best to make sure I get into the starting eleven. You’re laughing, but I’m serious. The kind of competition we have in the team, it’s getting difficult because we’ve got some really good young players who are pushing us. There are some seniors who are insecure about keeping their place and that’s the best team you can be part of because no one’s position is guaranteed and everyone is working very hard,” the 38-year-old added.
I can’t wait: Sunil Chhetri
When asked about if he looked forward to playing in front of the crowd again, he said, “We’re really happy to be back in the stadiums when fans are allowed. I remember each and every bit before the Covid-19 times. I can’t wait.”
