Panaji: For India to make it to the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia, the present and future has to be better than the past.
The Indian football team had a forgettable 2024, unable to notch a win in 11 international matches. It was a run that started with plenty of hope but ended in despair, prompting the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to sack coach Igor Stimac and replace him with Manolo Marquez in a rare club-and-country coach role.
Since taking over the national team, Manolo, also coaching FC Goa, has been in-charge for four games, three of which ended in draws, while the other was a loss against Syria in the Intercontinental Cup.
“Maybe against Mauritius (in the opening game), if I look back, we could have won the game,” Manolo told TOI. “We played after two training sessions. Maybe I made a mistake. I called 25 players and decided to play with different teams in both games. It could have been a mix (of players).”
India lost the decisive clash against Syria 3-0 and ended up with draws against Vietnam and Malaysia in the next two international friendlies. Manolo, though, will not be judged by any of these early results. His future depends on India’s qualification to the Asian Cup 2027.
“It’s always difficult when only one team goes through (from the group), but we are the pot one team and we need to show it on the field. We are the highest ranked team in the group and avoided some very strong teams. All this talk of one team being the favourites is nonsense. There are now six tough games and we have to try and top the group. I feel that we can do it,” said Manolo.
Should India qualify, India will make a record third consecutive appearance at the Asian Cup.
India begin their qualification campaign with a home clash against Bangladesh on March 25. Hong Kong and Singapore are the two other teams in the group, with only the toppers qualifying for the continental showpiece to be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2027.
Foreign coaches have always complained that they do not get time for preparations. For his last three assignments, Manolo didn’t have enough time to mould the team to his liking. But at least for the first two qualifiers, the Spanish coach will be able to train adequately.
“I am always criticizing, but I will speak good now (about ISL), that before our first game (on March 25), there will be a big (12-day break) for the ISL. We will try and play a friendly game before the qualifier, against a team with similar strength. Then in June we don’t have competition here. It’s a good time to have a long training camp before we face Hong Kong (on June 10),” said Manolo.
The ISL is expected to take a break after the end of the league stage on March 12, to give enough time for Manolo to prepare the national team.
Source Homevior.in
