A RevSportz Exclusive
Boria: Hello and welcome to another special interview with coach Igor Stimac. The World Cup qualifiers. The coach has said multiple times in the past that hese are the matches that define character, define the national team. I know the preparation has not been ideal. I know Jeakson are not available. Anwar Ali not available. These are important blows. But how are you looking at things, coach? Because Kuwait and Qatar, more importantly Kuwait in the first match, will perhaps define our campaign. So, first thoughts?
Igor Stimac: Yes, you are right. I will just repeat what you said. We got a huge blow with three very important players of our starting eleven getting injured in recent months, and they will be out for most of the season. So, without Ashique, Anwar and Jeakson on the team, we will not be the same. We’re going to miss them a lot. But whoever is coming to join us in Dubai and work with the staff and everyone here, they need to make sure that we don’t feel the absence of these boys. Speaking about the importance of the games, I mean it’s the opening games of the World Cup qualifiers. I don’t need to mention to you how important this is for a whole generation of players who are joining us, and how important this is for the country.
We are looking forward to the games. We know that we didn’t get what we were looking for with regard to the long camps, but Kuwait is in the same position – just three or four days more than we are getting. So hopefully, we can go through these opening two games without hurting ourselves too much, and staying alive for the March qualifier games.
Boria: So, I have to be realistic and there is so much interest in Indian football now, if I have to be realistic without these three players, what is a realistic assessment? Do you see us being competitive? Because obviously China and the Asian Games was a different story. To be competitive was perhaps not being realistic. But here, without the three players, how do you set up the first match against Kuwait? Mentally, Physically, we will be there?
Stimac: Firstly mentally, because what’s waiting for us in Kuwait is something our players probably never faced. You know, with the rough pitch, difficult conditions and with a huge crowd, enormous support to Kuwait players, very passionate supporters backing up their team and the Kuwait side in great recent form.
You know, if you just look back and see, they defeated Bahrain 3-1 in an away game, and they played fantastic against [United Arab] Emirates away from home. They lost the game 1-0 but they played a fantastic game and could have scored five or six goals. They defeated Syria 2-1.
So, it is telling you and confirming what I was saying about Kuwait prior to the SAAF Championship. You know they are a very competitive side with the great individual quality in their team and they can hurt anyone on their day. So, we need to be very careful. I am more worried about the recent form of some of our players, which has dropped significantly since July.
We have five or six days in front of us here to make our lines compact, to make our lines more solid because what’s been happening lately, especially in Malaysia [Merdeka Cup], was we started conceding goals in a very same old-fashioned way, which I’m not happy about. I need players to stay compact, defensively solid and not leak goals, not give away simple passes and balls without reason whatsoever.
Boria: You mentioned this point even in your media interaction after the Merdeka, but the point about referees … are you worried about that going into this qualifier against Kuwait? It is now a pattern everywhere India has played. Whether it is the absence of VAR and you are appealing saying there is a giant screen, this is becoming a pattern against India. Anything on that? I mean, going into this match in front of a hostile Kuwait crowd, are you apprehensive of anything like that and what do we need to do to combat such things?
Stimac: I don’t expect referees to do such silly things in World Cup Qualifiers. It might be a very different refereeing approach for a game much more serious than it is when you go to play tournaments like the Merdeka Cup or Kings Cup. When referees are trying to push you with their decisions, and you don’t have authority in the football world. And we are on our way to creating that authority with our game style, crowd, attitude, and everything. That needs to be presented on the pitch. So, it’s something that you need to earn in the football world, not to be mistreated by the referees wherever you go. And that’s why I was strongly against going away and playing these tournaments in September and October, because the FIFA windows never served India well. We have always been mistreated in any aspect. It’s not only about the refereeing, it’s about how the host country treats you, trying to disturb you and take your focus away from the game, from the match, which is always important.
Boria: Defensively, coming back to that question… before this interview, I was on YouTube, looking at the footage, some of it. How do you sort of rectify that and how do you put a system together again in 6 days? Because clearly, there is a problem that has crept in. ISL, very different ball game, local tournaments, very different ball game, compared to the national team. Against quality sides like Kuwait and, then, Qatar, which is a top side that played the World Cup, so how do you rectify these defensive lapses in such short time?
Stimac: With training drills, with individual meetings with the players, with analysis on their movements, positioning and things which needs to be better definitely. What I’m worried about is what we have seen in the AFC Cup club competitions also.
Because if you look only at one of our best clubs, Mumbai [City FC], which is competing in the AFC Champions League. the performances we cannot be happy about because they haven’t won in four games. It’s telling us that we cannot be too optimistic about facing strong teams like the kind of team which Mumbai played.
Al-Hilal, the Saudi Arabian team with great foreign players there, they don’t allow you to have the ball. Mumbai had only 180 passes in 95-98 minutes which is only two passes per minute. So, it’s something you need to find a way to get out of, and that will be very similar when we face Qatar. We need to find a way to get out of such situations.
But, you can only get out with a high press, with aggressive attitude. You cannot approach such games without being aggressive. You can’t let these teams have space and time. Such players and teams hurt you with controlled passing and their continuous attacks.
Boria: Last two questions. One, I was reading this FIFA interview of Sunil Chhetri where he very lovingly talks about you, the impact, and of course says it will be the greatest day of his life as and when India qualifies for the FIFA World Cup. A lot of people have spoken about it. FIFA has tweeted it. I’m sure you read that interview. Your thoughts?
Stimac: Yeah, absolutely appreciate his words, and it’s something we all earned together in the last four and a half years with our work, with our attitude, creating an environment of positive attitude and positive mindset around the national team. Not only inside the dressing room, but whoever was coming close to our environment could feel the intensity of that positive mindset and the attitude in the national team.
So, that’s something which has been created, which we’ve worked very hard upon. You know, it’s really important for me as a coach that all my players feel safe when they come to the national team. I don’t want them to feel any extra pressure representing the country. Because that will not help us. You know I’m well aware through my experience that pressure never brings you anything good, in the game or on the pitch.
So, making them feel good, making them feel at home when they join the national team camp, it’s the first challenge we always face and that’s something we work really hard on. So, I want them to enjoy each day, each second, each minute spent with the national team, to enjoy the work never mind how hard it is. But I want them to feel confident so they can be creative on the pitch. That’s really important for us.
And just to come back to the players we need to replace, it’s important to mention that by losing Ashique up front, we lost a big part of the high-press attitude which was present throughout June-July when we won three tournaments. Losing Jeakson, we will be losing the stability in passing and ball positioning. Then, losing Anwar Ali, losing stability in the build-up phase. It’s really difficult to say who will replace them. Obviously, we have Naorem Mahesh, in great form, and we cannot think about anyone else starting the game, replacing Ashique.
In Jeakson’s position, we have various options, with Apuia coming back to the national team. It’s a great chance for him to prove himself and to bounce back in a very positive way because he earned it. And I just hope that he can present great form for the national team also. And Anwar Ali, we have various options. We need to see who will be the best option for us on the day. It will come through the training sessions in the next five six days. Is it going to Mehtab or Rahul Bheke who will join Sandesh there in the back line? We will see.
EXCLUSIVE 🚨
“You have a great opportunity making more than 1 billion people happy” Igor Stimac and his boys set their sights on the upcoming FIFA World Qualifiers as a chance to bring happiness to over 1 billion people.
Get insights from @IndianFootball‘s Head Coach on the… pic.twitter.com/34zHiv8VNx
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) November 9, 2023
Boria: Last question. You mention pressure. There will be pressure, and look, there is expectation. World Cup Qualifiers bring pressure. But there are two ways. I mean Sachin Tendulkar, my friend, says there are two ways to deal with pressure. One is if you treat it as an opportunity and see people behind you. So he says, if a billion people are behind you and they push you forward, that’s one way of dealing with pressure. If a billion people are on top of you and push you down, that’s one way of dealing with pressure. You need to use the pressure in a positive way. How are going to deal the pressure and what will you tell the boys, because there will be, despite the Cricket World Cup on, pressure when you play Kuwait in Kuwait. All of India will want a miracle.
Stimac: It will be pressure, definitely. But, as I told you, I am never putting that kind of pressure on the players. I am trying to leave that pressure on myself, on my shoulders. And I am telling them, always leave that result to me. I am responsible for the result. What you need to do, you need to go out on the pitch and you need to be really aware that you have a great opportunity of making more than one billion people happy. And bring happiness to their home, their daily problems, and their daily challenges. So, that’s a great challenge, great opportunity for each player and I will be the one taking care of the results. Bad or good, we don’t have a problem with that. We need to have strong faith, strong belief about what we do. Nothing drastic will happen after these opening two games. We can either put ourselves in a good position in the opening World Cup Qualifiers or put out ourselves under more pressure. But, with pressure, I am the one who will cope with it. I want players to enjoy their game. Not more that that.
Boria: Fantastic. This is why you have earned so much respect in the country, by pushing yourself in front to soak in that pressure, while you give players the credit if they do well. I hope India does well as an Indian fan, and analyst of the game. But at the same time, you’ve got to be realistic. Respect the opponents, who will be better prepared, like Qatar. So, we will see how things go. But, one thing like you said, effort will not be lacking and that’s what is important for us. Going forward, we need to be proud of ourselves and put the best version of ourselves forward as a team. That’s when India will go forward with you, coach Stimac.
I hope you will join me and give me a few more minutes at the end of the first game. And of course, my team will be there to support you in every possible way in Bhubhaneshwar and everywhere else that you play. So, thank you very much for your time. Appreciate you joining us. And on behalf of every Indian football fan, wish you the best. May that miracle happen.
Stimac: Thank you so much, dear Boria. Thank you.