India football coach Igor Stimac said the team cannot be dependent on just a single player to perform everytime, in an apparent reference to talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri.
“I’m quite happy with our performance in last three games — looking at the way we played, at possession numbers. We dominated them and our goalkeeper wasn’t much disturbed,” Stimac said at the media conference ahead of India’s last round-robin league match against hosts Maldives.
India have scored just two goals till now in the ongoing SAFF Championships and both came by Chhetri. Chhetri also equalled Pele’s 77th strike in the match against Nepal.
“But there is an old problem which is following us and that’s converting chances. We cannot be dependent on just one player and need to be more confident in front of goal,” he added.
To stay in the tournament India have to win their clash against Maldives. A draw or loss will knock them out of the tournament, which could also raise doubts about Stimac’s continuation at the helm of affairs.
India won SAAF seven times and since 2003 they either finished as winner or runners up in the tournament.
