Sunil Chhetri best Indian striker: Coach Marquez

Need to win Asian Cup qualifiers, says India coach explaining why he got Sunil to come out of retirement

- Dhiman Sarkar

KOLKATA: In the dead of the night and before the heat from an edgy encounter had dissipated, Manolo Marquez made an exception: speak about the national team as FC Goa coach. It would also be his first comments explaining Sunil Chhetri's inclusion in the India squad for the friendly against Maldives and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh later this month.

At the moment, Chhetri, 40, is the best Indian striker and he was included because it gives India the best chance in a competition they need to win to stay among the Asian elite, said Marquez. Which is why the 56-year-old Spaniard, who won the ISL cup with Hyderabad FC in 2021-22, said he spoke to Chhetri who had retired from international football last June.

"Usually when I am in ISL, I do not reply to questions on the national team. But, okay, it is the end of the regular season," he said on Saturday night after FC Goa's 0-2 defeat to Mohun Bagan Super Giant at Salt Lake stadium here.