‘The army training brought us together,’ says Sunil Chhetri

Bengaluru: Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri on Wednesday conceded that Oman are a better side than his team but asserted that the Indians will play without any pressure when they take on Oman in their AFC qualification match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup here on Thursday.

Responding to a query about India's chances against Oman, Chhetri said, "Let us be very clear in our minds, that we are playing a very good side. Oman are a better side than us. We need to give our best, and have to be positive and make the rivals realise we are giving them a fight."

"We have young players and they have a clean mind, which is not under pressure or any kind of tension springing from past track record against rivals like Oman. This should work to our advantage," he said at the match-eve press conference.

IN PICS: Indian football team undergoes army training

"The training was good which brought us together, but it is not something that has been highlighted by the media as a game-changer. It is not something that it will make Ninjas out of this exercise," he said.

Indian footballers had undergone army training as a new concept in team building exercise, which happened at the Army Service Corps Centre (ASC) where footballers were put through obstacle courses consisting of 21 different barriers and also team building recreational games.

Chhetri said it bothered him on not having a great season in terms of scoring goals in good numbers.

"To be honest it bothers me (of not having scored too many goals), if you see my stats this season," he said.

Chhetri has not been among goals as he scored just 11 from 28 matches he played this season so far. The biggest disappointment was his below par goal-scoring performance in the I-League where he played 20 games and scored twice only.

Oman coach Paul Le Guen said his players were confident of doing well in the match but would ignore India's progress in the last couple of years.

"At this level, we cannot ignore any team. India has been progressing well in the last two years and I don't see any reason why they will not play well. We need to play to our strengths," he told reporters on the eve of the match to be played at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here.

"Apart from playing against Australia, South Korea and Kuwait in the Asian Cup, we also have played friendlies against Algeria, Bahrain and Syria. These matches have given my boys a lot of confidence for the qualifiers," he added.

Le Guen, who guided Oman to qualification for the AFC Asian Cup in Australia this year, said his side have been working hard and putting in good preparations.

"We have had a very good time in preparing the team. In football, winning is important. It's not going to be easy. We have been working hard," Le Guen said.

Le Guen said his team has young and inexperienced players but they were willing to work hard.