Indian Defender Sandesh Jhingan Targets 'Clean Sheet Victories' Ahead Of 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers
The Blue Tigers are slated to play a friendly against Maldives in preparation for the third round of qualifying for the continental showpiece against Bangladesh.
The Indian National Football Team will take on Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Singapore in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying round three, with just the top-placed team promised a berth in the continental event.
The Blue Tigers are slated to play a friendly against Maldives in preparation for the same at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on the 19th of March.
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India and Bangladesh will face each other on the 25th of March and star defender Sandesh Jhingan voiced that the side look to hold a clean sheet against the neighbours.
“Our main aim is to get the result in the Bangladesh match, as that would give us a good start in the Asian Cup Qualifiers, and I think the 10-day training ahead of that, along with the friendly against Maldives will greatly help us prepare for it," the 30-year-old FC Goa defensive stalwart said.
“Our target is two clean sheet victories," he added.
The upcoming fixtures will also witness the return of talismanic skipper Sunil Chetri, who has opted to come out of retirement to help Manolo Marquez and Co. in their pursuit of the coveted qualification spot.
Chhetri, who called time on his illustrious international career last year, has been lighting it up in the Indian Super League with 12 goals in 24 games in the ongoing campaign and stands second on the list of goal-scorers at the ripe old age of 40.
Marquez revealed that the ‘special situation’ pushed him to discuss the return of Chhetri to the Blue Tigers and the charismatic captain answered the coach’s calls.
“Because it was a special situation, I spoke with the AIFF and Bengaluru FC before I called him. I spoke with Sunil and explained to him what I wanted from him," Marquez said.
“It doesn’t matter if he’s 40. The national team needs players who are in good form," the head coach beamed.
“Sunil is the Indian top-scorer in the ISL, with practically double goals than the next player, who is Brison. After that are Subhasish, Irfan, Manvir, all of them are here with us in the national team," the Spaniard added.
“We need players who score goals. In my four matches so far, we have only scored two goals – one of them from a set-piece. At this moment, the most important thing is to get results. Nothing else matters," Marquez stated.
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