Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia voiced his dissatisfaction with the strategies and absence of a coherent game plan within the men’s national football team. With Sunil Chhetri making a return to international play less than a year after his retirement announcement, Bhutia cautioned that depending on Chhetri to consistently deliver victories could be detrimental to the national squad.

In an interview with the Indian Express following India's lackluster 0-0 draw against Bangladesh in Shillong, where India was expected to win, Bhutia remarked, “Throughout the match, we had very few attacking options. Our approach was overly predictable, relying on wing play, dribbling, passing, crossing, and hoping Sunil would convert with a header.”

Chhetri, who has netted 95 international goals for India, has been a key player for the team. However, at 40 years of age, Bhutia emphasized that the team cannot depend on him indefinitely. He also expressed concern over Manolo Marquez’s squad's struggle to generate scoring opportunities and penetrate opposing defenses.

Bhutia further elaborated on the evolution of football, stating, “In the past, defending was not as structured as it is today. Defenders were not trained to maintain a line or shape, which allowed for more scoring opportunities.” He highlighted the contrast between the current state of the game and Chhetri’s prime, which was just a decade ago.

‘He might have a head haemorrhage…’

Today, football has evolved into a more comprehensive system. It is crucial to exhibit intelligence in passing, movement, and positioning. Defenders are now extensively trained to mark either zonally or man-to-man, focusing on their positioning and overall shape, as noted by the former Indian forward.

Bhutia expressed his concerns regarding the Indian team's one-dimensional approach to play and highlighted their shortcomings within that tactical setup.

"Not a single cross from the wings by an Indian player found its way between the goalkeeper and the defenders, leaving us reliant solely on Sunil's headers." He added with a chuckle, "By the time he retires for the second time, he might suffer from a head injury! For both club and country, everyone seems to be aiming to deliver crosses to his head."

Chhetri made a notable return to the Indian squad by scoring a goal against the Maldives in India's 3-0 victory last week, netting the third goal from a cross by Liston Colaco. Although he had declared his international retirement in May 2024, coach Marquez requested his assistance during the current AFC Asian Cup qualification round.

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