‘The Main Team Needs to Win’: Coach Marquez Backs Sunil Chhetri’s U-Turn On Retirement With Courageous Admission

Team India head coach Manolo Marquez has Sunil Chhetri's decision to reverse his decision to retire and return to the International fold. Marquez expressed that the players who are in better shape would be called up and be made a part of the squad and that age is not a factor for the legendary Indian footballer. He also stressed upon the fact that they need to win games from now.

Manolo Marquez Backs Up Sunil Chhetri Amid Criticism Over Retirement U-Turn

Indian football Icon Sunil Chhetri shocked the world after reversing his decision to call time in his international career. After initially calling time on June 2024, Chettri pulled a U-turn in his retirement and made himself available for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifier. The move has sparked criticism over Indian football's inability to function and develop a skilled footballer. But coach Manolo Marquez has came the defence and delivered a bold take over Chettri's reversal.

"He is the Indian player with the most goals this season. It doesn't matter if a player is 20, 40, or my grandfather at 87. If they are in better shape, they will be here. The national team is not about developing players. Developed players have to arrive here. The main team needs to win games. And if we need to win games, we need to call players who are in better shape," Manolo Marquez said at the pre-match press conference.

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Will Chhetri Play In the Maldives Friendlies?

Further in the interview, the Indian Football coach also revealed that Chettri would be a part of the upcoming friendlies against Maldives. While it is unsure on whether Chhetri would play from the start, he would certainly play the game and be in the field for some minutes.

"For sure, Sunil will play some minutes. I don't know whether as a starter or from the bench. We can use six substitutions, so 17 players can play, and I think Sunil will be one of them," Coach Marquez added.

Team India will be in action against Maldives in a friendly match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on March 19, 2025.

Also Read: India Vs Maldives: Venue, Date, Time, Squad, Live Streaming, Predicted XIs And All You Need To Know