I'm higher than Messi and Ronaldo: Sunil Chhetri | Soccer News
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If there's one identify on each Indian's lips proper now, it is that of Sunil Chhetri, the captain of the Indian soccer staff, who lifted the 2023 Bangabandhu SAFF Championship in Bengaluru final week. The 38-year-old, nonetheless, humbly acknowledges the help, adulation, and encouragement he and the remainder of the Blue Tigers have acquired.
"It has been nice, the help, proper from day 1 (of the event). On the pitch, the way in which followers had been and inspired us all through the sport was one thing particular and one thing magical. Additionally, the truth that Kuwait and Lebanon—who had been India's opponents within the last and the semi-finals, respectively—are usually not precisely SAFF groups. They had been invited, and they're actually good high quality sides. So beating them, competitions like them, additionally felt nice," he informed us over the cellphone.
On the identical time, Chhetri, who acknowledges a optimistic change within the angle and consciousness of followers in the direction of Indian soccer, insists that each the staff and the followers keep cautious and keep actual. "There was by no means an issue with the match-going followers, however sure, there was a rise within the quantity of people that have began speaking about soccer, and I believe that is a very good factor. I can sense the environment is altering. However on the identical time, I do know we've jumped up just a few ranks, we nonetheless have an extended technique to go. Now we have to only sustain the great work and keep targeted on the place we need to attain now," he added.
The following intention, Chhetri says, is to carry out nicely within the upcoming Asian Cup. "The Asian Cup is just like the World Cup for us. It's proper on the very high of our record, and due to this fact, performing our greatest there may be paramount. I do not imply to place this stress on the boys, however we must be qualifying for the Asian Cup each time," stated Chhetri.
"Proper now, worldwide soccer is such that nobody is aware of what's going to occur, and underdogs, too, can win! You simply by no means know what's going to occur in soccer. That is why we've to offer our greatest, and that is a message I'm attempting to ship to the remainder of the staff," he added.
He has been the captain for greater than a decade now and is arguably one of the crucial adorned skippers of all time. His particular person stats for the staff show he has been main the staff from the entrance. Chhetri is within the all-time high 10 record of highest objective scorers for his or her worldwide groups, proper alongside the names of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"There is no comparability with the remainder of the 9 names on the record. I imply, I'm a fan of gamers like Ronaldo and Messi, identical to so many different followers of them. There's simply no comparability, and I do not take this record, or no matter this record is, too significantly. However, sure, relating to representing the nationwide staff, I may be even higher than them," he stated.
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