India’s football head coach Igor Stimac has said he will do everything to help Sunil Chhetri play for five more years. Chhetri, 38, is still delivering the goods for the national team and he is fit as a fiddle. The veteran scored five goals in five matches of the recently concluded SAFF Championship, which India won by beating Kuwait on penalties in the final.
Chhetri also scored a hat-trick in the opening game of the tournament against arch-rivals Pakistan. The talisman will turn 39 next month but he still has a lot of fuel left in his tank.
Chhetri has always maintained a high level of fitness and he will look to carry a good show for the Blue Tigers.
“The question is always, ‘Who after Chhetri?’ but I never thought that way,” Stimac said during an interview with the Indian Express.
“I was doing everything to keep alive the hunger he has so that he stays with us as long as possible. Even when he went through difficulties in Bengaluru being sidelined the last couple of years, we did everything to make sure he doesn’t leave too soon,” he added.
The Croatian admitted that Chhetri has one of the best fitness levels in the team and he will try to help the veteran in prolonging his career.
“I would like him to play for the national team at least as long as I am here. From the day I joined, I have been hearing about his age. But what counts is his fitness, commitment, passion, hunger and leadership skills. He is the best player India has ever had and his record speaks for it,” Stimac told The Times of India in another interview.
“He is, in fitness, one of the top three in all the tests we execute for the national team. With his body, the numbers are perfect – be it body fat percentage or weight. Why should we think about Chhetri retiring? I’m going to do everything in my power to help him play for another five years,” he told Indian Express highlighting Chhetri’s fitness levels.
The gaffer also highlighted the team is not over-reliant on the shoulders of their skipper as they are coming up with collective efforts.
“We do not depend on Sunil Chhetri. He doesn’t bring the ball up the pitch or is part of midfield triangle drills,” the Croatian told Indian Express.
“He is clearly a different class. With Sunil, we have a different approach. There are going to be times when he isn’t present,” he added.
India will next take part in the AFC Asia Cup.
