Lallianzuala Chhangte urges fans to stand by Indian football, promises team will ‘play their hearts out’

New Delhi: Indian football fans have to not any extent further had a lot to cheer for the team after the side’s untimely exit from the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers earlier this year. The team went on to finish last within the Intercontinental Cup and scored most effective one goal from open play in 2024. In an conversation with IANS, Lallianzuala Chhangte has promised the Indian fans that the team will ”play their hearts out” and urged the countrymen to make stronger the side in such times.

“To each of the fans on the market, please don’t stop believing in us, in Indian football as well. Please specialise in this. We can never take playing for the national team with no consideration. We can play our hearts out. We can give the entirety. Yeah, of course, we will’t promise you that we will win every match, but you’ll see that we will give the entirety for the usa. So that's my promise to you, to each and every person who loves Indian football,” Chhangte told IANS on Monday.

“You prefer a bit little bit of time under the new coach as well. You may have got gotten to understand what the sport plan is, what he wants you to or how he wants you to play. So it takes a bit little bit of time, but I believe we're within the correct direction. I strongly have faith that we will come again stronger,” he added.

The 2024 is be a massive year for Indian football. Now no longer most effective has the nation seen the departure of Igor Stimac, who had a five-year tenure as head coach of the senior men’s team, but moreover saw the retirement of Sunil Chhetri, per chance the greatest player to ever represent the nation.

With the total usa in search of out their next hero, many fingers point towards the 27-year-old forward Chhangte, who won the AIFF Player of the Year award for the 2d consecutive year. He went on to chat on the added pressure that comes from their captain’s departure.

“On the identical time as you do well for the club and the usa, expectations are going to be high. A whole lot higher and better each game and every season. So that's normal as a player. And that you may want to accommodate it and adapt to it. So for me, I believe I don’t take external pressure an excessive amount of. I've my own expectations, which are way higher than what anyone expects from me,” said the Mumbai City FC captain.

Chhangte also received some high praise from one of India’s most experienced players Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Indian goalkeeper in comparison Chhangte’s footballing ability to that of former Dutch forward Arjen Robben. The striker stated that such compliments urge him to work more demanding.

“One of my friends sent me that video. I believe it change into Gurpreet, who said that. He’s a player that I’ve been looking up to since I joined the national team camp back in 2015. He change into one of many players who guided me and he's a mentor for me until today as well. I believe it’s a massive statement and I in point of fact do appreciate it. But most significantly, you recognize, these compliments give me the urge, the inducement to work even more demanding. And, yeah, this gives me an excessive amount of energy to do even better,” he concluded.