Kolkata:In the stillness of the night, shortly after the intensity of a recent match had subsided, Manolo Marquez made a notable exception by discussing the national team in his capacity as the coach of FC Goa. This marked his initial remarks regarding Sunil Chhetri’s selection for the Indian squad, which is set to compete in a friendly against the Maldives and a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh later this month.

Currently, at the age of 40, Chhetri stands as the premier Indian striker, and his inclusion is deemed essential for providing India with the best opportunity to succeed in a tournament critical for maintaining their status among Asia's elite, as stated by Marquez. The 56-year-old Spaniard, who previously led Hyderabad FC to victory in the ISL cup during the 2021-22 season, mentioned that he had a conversation with Chhetri, who had announced his retirement from international football last June.

"Typically, I refrain from addressing questions about the national team while involved in the ISL. However, given that the regular season has concluded, I felt it appropriate," he remarked on Saturday night following FC Goa’s 0-2 loss to Mohun Bagan Super Giant at Salt Lake Stadium.

"I recognize that my success in India has been largely due to the contributions of numerous young players. It is not solely my achievement; it is a collective effort involving the staff at Hyderabad FC, my initial role in India, and now at FC Goa. Nevertheless, in this competition, victory is imperative," Marquez emphasized, referring to the Asian Cup qualifiers.

"We must find the back of the net. In my four matches with the national team, we managed to score only two goals: one from a set-piece and another from open play. It is evident who the leading Indian scorer in the ISL is: Sunil Chhetri. Following him is Bryson Fernandes, and then Subhasish Bose."

"I am aware of his retirement announcement, which is why I reached out to him directly. I understand that this is a challenging situation for both him and me," Marquez added.

Chhetri enters Bengaluru FC’s final league match against Mumbai City FC on Tuesday in ISL11 with a record of 12 goals and two assists. He ranks second among the top scorers, trailing NorthEast United’s Alaaeddine Ajaraie, who has netted 23 goals and provided seven assists, and is the only Indian player in the top ten. Meanwhile, Fernandes has scored seven goals.

Marquez stated, "While it is accurate that there are several talented players, they are primarily positioned as wingers. Additionally, there are players who contribute goals from the bench. Our requirement is for players who can participate consistently. Is Sunil a suitable option for India? He is currently 40 years old. We shall see. Nevertheless, he remains the top Indian striker at this time, and I believe there is no question regarding that."

He emphasized that the qualifiers should not merely serve as a platform to evaluate players who have scored a few goals, noting that such scenarios may arise in tournaments like the SAFF Cup, where he expressed a desire to field an under-23 team. While nurturing talent, as he has done with ISL clubs, is crucial for the national team, Marquez remarked, "we also require immediate outcomes."

India concluded 2024 without securing a victory in 11 matches, with the last four games occurring under Marquez's management. He succeeded Igor Stimac, who was dismissed last June after the team failed to advance to the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a progression that would have guaranteed an automatic spot in the upcoming Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

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