Mumbai: An elated Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri termed his team’s maiden Indian Super League victory against FC Goa as a ‘sweet one’ especially after his side had faltered in the summit clash last season against Chennaiyin FC.
Courtesy Rahul Bheke’s championship-winning header in the second extra time, Bengaluru defeated FC Goa 1-0 in an edge of a seat thriller last night here to win their maiden ISL title. Bengaluru had last year lost last year’s final to Chennaiyin FC
“Last year after the final, I said next year we’ll come back. Right from the ball boy to Carles (Cuadrat – the coach), everyone wanted this. We wanted to win it (the title) badly. When you lose the way we did last year, it’s sweet to win this one. Asia, we are back,” Chhetri said.
Now by winning the ISL, Bengaluru FC will play in the AFC Asian Cup next year.
Chhetri also said it was ‘commendable’ that a player like Ferran Corominas, who bagged the Golden Boot award, did not get any chance against his team on all the three occasions when the two teams clashed.
“The message from the coach was that we should try to attack but as soon as we lose the ball, we should fall back and defend and have numbers (at the back). For players like me, Miku and Udanta (Singh), it was not easy because we are attacking minded people,” Chhetri said.
“I am happy we did it because Nishu (Kumar) and (Harmanjot) Khabra got that security when Udanta and I traced back. It is commendable that a player like Coro (Corominas) did not get open chances against us in three games,” he said.
“Last year, we conceded off set pieces and we were dominant until those two goal, so we were sure on not letting it happen today,” he added.
Asked where he would rate this win, Chhetri quipped, “Top-two. Number 2.”
PTI