THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Chhetri: "We need to gel well together"

Sunil Chhetri

Sunil Chhetri

The Senior National Team had morning and evening training sessions at the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi on its third day of the Preparatory Camp for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the UAE.

After an hour and half session in the morning where the stress was more on the ball possession, rain interrupted the evening session due to heavy showers in the capital.  However the players sweated it out for an hour in the evening session.

National Coach Armando Colaco is leaving no stone unturned to get the desired results ahead of the all important World Cup qualifier against the UAE.

Sunil Chhetri with his experience and performance in the National Team color remains a key player for the Goan coach and the Delhi lad is quite happy with composition of the team.

“We have a good set of players. All we need is to gel well together and work hard ahead of the UAE match,” the former Sporting Kansas striker said.

“Mr. Armando Colaco has done wonders with Dempo and I am all aware of the style of play having played for Dempo two years back,” Chhetri added.

“All the players are very good and everyone has to put their best foot forward in the camp,” he further added.

“We played very well in the AFC Challenge Cup in Malaysia and it’s good that the coach has decided to have the same set of players. The right combination helps the team to prepare well,” he commented.

Mehtab Hussain’s hard work and consistent performance in the I-League earned him a place in the camp and the midfielder is quite happy with the progress.

“I feel great to be a part of the camp. Armando Sir is one of the good coaches we have in the country right now and the results over the years speaks for him,” said Mehtab.

“There are lots of variations in the practice and I am enjoying a lot.”

“It was five years back when I played my last game for India against Yemen in the same ground. Things have changed in a very good manner. The facilities are very good and we are more professional now as compared to past,” told the East Bengal midfielder speaking to the media after the training session.