Today, Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) will lock horns with Bengaluru FC (BFC) at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata in the ISL 2024-25 final. Most eyes will be on the home side as the Mariners have a chance to make it a double this season. Ahead of the clash, BFC goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, had an exclusive chat with RevSportz’s editor-in-chief, Boria Majumdar. In this freewheeling conversation, Gurpreet talked about the preparation, Sunil Chhetri, the importance of fans, his thoughts on Mohun Bagan and much more.
Another ISL final for you. Thoughts?
Thank you so much for having me. But as you know, Sunil (Chhetri) bhai is the captain of the club and always will be. Still, it’s really nice to be here—another final, another big occasion. As a player and as a club, you can’t ask for more. Reaching the later stages of any competition is what every player and every team aims for. We’re very thankful for this season, and hopefully, we go out there and give our best tomorrow.
What explains Sunil Chhetri?
It’s his desire to win—something he’s had since he was probably a little kid. That desire is still there. With the right mix of good food, sports science, sleep, and discipline, he’s turned himself into the beast we all know. I’m not surprised. I’ve spent 15 years with him, fortunately, and I can see why he’s able to do what he does.
His impact on the team, especially before a big game like this?
As I mentioned earlier, it’s that desire he still has—to play, to win—even after achieving almost everything a player can achieve in Indian football. That’s what impacts everyone. Everyone sees a man who has played over 600–700 games, scored 95 goals for his country, and yet he shows up every day, puts in the hard work with the same intent, and keeps pushing himself. For him, it’s more about showing through actions than speaking with words.
A packed Salt Lake Stadium is expected tomorrow. Do you think about the home advantage for Mohun Bagan?
I’m not so sure because this is the first time I’m playing against a club that’s in a final at their home ground. For me, it’s a fresh challenge. But when the stadium is full, you get more joy out of playing. When the challenge is bigger, players love to step up and enjoy those moments. It’s great that the stadium will be full and loud—it keeps you in the game.
You’ll be trying your best to silence the crowd then?
Yes, we’ll try our best. There’s no doubt about that. As a team, whenever we step on the ground, we always aim to win—home or away. Tomorrow will be no different.
The reason behind BFC’s consistency?
There are a lot of things that make an organisation successful. Obviously, the players and the coaching staff, but the most important part beyond football is the setup that runs the club. At BFC, we have a very competent and professional setup, and they’ve done superbly so far. When you join a club like BFC and see that everything is being run properly, you don’t need to worry about anything other than football. That makes our job easier. We just go out there and try to do justice to those people and to our amazing fans.
Thoughts on your passionate fans and on Parth Jindal’s involvement?
It’s great to have someone like him. He doesn’t go into hiding regardless of results. That’s why people like him are so important. When things aren’t going well, he takes responsibility and encourages others too. And when things are going well, he still encourages and supports. We as a team always want to play beautiful football and contribute to Indian football in some way.
Any extra motivation for a match like this?
I don’t need to find much. The occasion, the opponent, the venue, and the atmosphere—these are motivation enough. We’ve got a lot of experienced players in the club, and we can’t wait to step into the stadium, hear that whistle blow, and go for it. As a player, these are the games you crave. It’s tough to play in an empty stadium or in a dead-rubber game.
Most experts say Mohun Bagan are the favourites. Does that matter?
If we win, I don’t care what people say before or after the game. Experts can say whatever they like—it’s their job. Our job is to go out there, play football, and try to win. If we do that, we’ll let our football do the talking.
Pressure ahead of the big final—what message will you pass on in the dressing room?
I’ll try to keep the mood light, as I always do. Pressure is good—if there’s no pressure, there’s no stake. That butterfly feeling is important. It keeps you focused. My message is simple: have good sleep, eat well, and be in the best possible mood before kick-off.
Words on Mohun Bagan?
Everyone knows how well they’ve played this season. So many wins, unbeaten at home—that’s a big achievement. Even in tough games, they found ways to score goals out of nothing. That shows a champion mentality. That’s why they won the shield. It’s been a great season for them and their fans. I have a lot of respect for what they’ve achieved. They’ve set a bar for others to match, especially with more teams and games coming in the future—it’s only going to get more competitive.
According to you, how important is it for Indian clubs to do well at the AFC level?
It’s hugely important. If clubs from our country play in AFC competitions, they need to do well because it brings more recognition, respect, and attention to Indian football. It builds that sense of credibility. Now Mohun Bagan will play in the Champions League tournament. As a player and a professional, I want them to win as many games as possible and score goals—because in the end, it helps Indian football as a whole.
How important are the fans?
It’s beautiful how football connects with fans in so many ways. Fans are everything. They remind us why we do what we do. We should never take that for granted. Whether it’s Mohun Bagan or Bengaluru, our focus should always be to put on a good show for the fans. We must do justice to their support—they spend their hard-earned money to come and watch us play.
Also Read: The 40-plus age just as number as Sunil Chhetri continues to blaze a trail