Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri is struggling with poor form. He has not scored a single goal in 6 matches so far in the current season of the Indian Super League (ISL), but his team Bengaluru FC head coach Marco Pezzaiuoli is not worried about this charismatic player’s rhythm. Pezzaiuoli said that Sunil Chhetri is also a human being and it is a difficult time for him but the team is supporting its captain.
“He is also a human,” Pezzaiuoli said referring to Sunil Chhetri after suffering a 1-2 loss against FC Goa on Saturday. Sometimes your luck is not good. He got lucky with the national football team and the ball used to stay with him many times, he scored five goals there.
The coach added, “It is a difficult time but Sunil Chhetri has the support of the team and the way he has performed for the team is fantastic. He needs more luck inside the box (near the opposing team’s goal post). He is working very hard and you will see the result soon.’ Chhetri needs just two goals to become the highest goalscorer of the ISL.”
Sunil Chhetri missed to convert a penalty twice in the current season of ISL. Even against FC Goa on Saturday, he failed to capitalize on an easy opportunity from very close. This was Chhetri’s 100th match in the ISL. Pezzaiuoli said, ‘Chhetri had a great chance in that match, usually on such occasions, he scores goals even with his eyes closed.’
When asked if the team is looking at any player as a replacement for Chhetri in the playing XI, the coach responded, “I don’t think we should talk much about Sunil. I don’t exclude any one player. We have lost matches as a team and I think that is more important.” Bengaluru FC is in 10th position in the table of 11 teams. The team has to play the next match against ATK Mohun Bagan on 16 December.
