voy-newyearpg Manolo Marquez Opens Up On Chhetri’s International Retirement U-turn

　　File photo of Bengaluru FC's Sunil Chhetri celebrating a goal in the Indian Super League.Photo: ISL File photo of Bengaluru FC's Sunil Chhetri celebrating a goal in the Indian Super League.Photo: ISL

Indian national football team head coach Manolo Marquez opened up about bringing back Sunil Chhetri out of international retirement ahead of India’s 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign. (More Football News)

India will play a friendly-fixture against Maldives in the March international window before battling it out against Bangladesh in the first match of the third round of 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

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The coach pulled out a surprise selection by including Chhetri in the squad for two matches. 

The 40-year-old Chhetri had announced his retirement in June 2024 after he dropped an emotional video on X (formerly known as Twitter). 

I'd like to say something... pic.twitter.com/xwXbDi95WV

— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 16, 2024

“We are in a competition that we need to win and we need to score goals. Be it in open play or through set-pieces. In the four games under me, we have scored two goals and we need to score (more),” Marquez was quoted as saying by Indiansuperleague.com

“If you look at the ISL,betef slots then Sunil Chhetri is the top Indian goalscorer followed by Brison Fernandes and Subhasish Bose. This is the national team and we need players who can play well immediately,” he added.

The Indian head coach also stressed on the importance of developing budding stars through the junior national team but felt that this side needed to produce immediate results to ensure AFC Asian Cup qualification for the third time on the bounce. 

Chhetri has 12 goals in his current ISL 2024-25 campaign, and will look to end India’s 12-game winless run when they meet Maldives on March 19. 

This was announced by FIH President Tayyab Ikram who said: "Giving more opportunities to play to a larger and more diverse number of National Associations is one of the key pillars of our empowerment and engagement strategy."voy-newyearpg